If we relate to people, we will eventually be upset, disapprove of something, or disagree with someone. It’s part of life! We are imperfect. What we need to understand is that instead of reacting to these situations of disagreement with our sinful instinct. That is, instead of losing reason, anger or resentment, we must choose to love. We need to respond to circumstances in a wise and balanced way, as people healed and well resolved in the Father.
Love is a choice
John 15:9 –As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
John 15:16 – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
Jesus, throughout the entire 15th chapter of the book of John, invites us to abide in his love. What does that mean? It means that his love does not change, it will always be the same. It is as if he said, “My love is here available, I have loved you. Now it is up to you to remain in this love.”
In verse 16 he says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” This indicates that Jesus CHOSEN us in love. In the Bible, the action of “CHOOSING” is what makes love possible. God, through Jesus, chose to love us. And we validate the sacrifice and love of Jesus for us, when we choose Him as Lord of our lives.
Choose to LOVE
When we choose to live God’s love for us, though we are imperfect, we are invited to live the perfect love in all areas of our lives (with our family, spouse, friends, and fellow believers). And this is possible, for as it is written in 1 John 4:19, we love because He first loved us.
The more we experience the love of God and relate to the Father, the more we become capable of choosing love people. Although they are different from us, they think differently from us. Although they hurt us, fail us or disappoint us.
Perfect love drives out fear
When we choose to love, despite the differences, we create an environment of secure relationships. Where people can be themselves. They will not be afraid to be reproved. They will know that they will not fail to be loved for expressing who they really are, for opening their hearts or exposing their weaknesses. We, as the church of Christ, need to promote this secure environment of love and freedom.
1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
This verse has several applications: in the context of the chapter the verse may be applied to us no longer being afraid of condemnation because when we stand in the perfect love of Christ we are assured of salvation. And this verse also refers to the environment of love between people. The verse says that fear implies punishment. In an insecure environment, where there is judgment, people are afraid to be reproved, to stop being loved, to be excluded.
But where there is the love that God expects of us, which is perfect, fear is expelled. People feel free to open their hearts in an authentic and sincere way. And who does not like walking around honest and true people?
Concluding…
Be an agent that promotes freedom. Our ministry, our church and our small groups need to be a place of trust. Stop just reacting, condemning and judging. Change the reactions of judgment and condemnation for the PERFECT LOVE, which always chooses to love, regardless of what happened.
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Text based on the book “Keep Your Love On” by Danny Silk from Bethel Church.
Thank you so much for this blog. It’s very timely for me as I have allowed myself to be upset with those I love because I feel that I am not fairly treated sometimes. We are imperfect indeed and you have reminded me of the need to react with Godly love rather than human nature when we are overwhelmed and faced with certain circumstances. God bless you. ,🙏
Thank you so much for so we’ll articulating what we all know and have seen from God and his word. I know in personal study for understanding Godly Love, my upbringing showed few examples. I had to realize that my goal was to learn from Jesus how I was to Love. Accepting others within their limited ability to both give and receive Love, trusting my Lord alone for my healing from that exposure. But always remember that while we are giving others that Loving free to be them space, we can’t expect many others to give that to us. Thus we must be prudent to whom we share what. Always be honest and open, share what Holy Spirit leads us to, trusting his use of it, but not all things to all people. But in the end not having always succeeded at this by any means, but you have no idea how glorious, freeing and fulfilling it is when we Love with his Love and just trust him alone with our hearts even when there is pain, he heals it. Thank you for this beautiful blog! 💕
Amen n amen. Beautiful meditation. Only God’s love can help us overcome hatred and fear of negative situations.
Love an manners mi bredins an sistrins. Foriver and iver
Thank you! For sharing this blog..
❤️💯
Thank You soooo much! This is exactly what I needed today!!
Holler! YES!!!!!!
Living water right here people- come and get it!
(Love is the way Christ has portrayed the Father, Mr. Enaannato)
Thank you for taking a moment to heal some hearts and minds with this message. I took pleasure and great appreciation in reading. I’m glad I did.
Thanks, though I’ve been trying to find this love you referred to, it continues to elude me. Unfortunately in my opinion the people who I express love to. And it’s not a sissy I love you, I try to give love through action. Now having tried many times and been burned, I just live and let live. We live in a different world, it’s a world were many people feel (selfie) that’s a spirit of self intitalment. So I stick to the study of God’s word for this dispensation. And my Heavenly Father’s love sustained me. God bless your efforts. Regards Joseph 😇
This has spoker very deeply in my heart. Thank you. I am ordering this book.
This love is the unconditional kind of love that loves our brothers, sisters, and even our enemies, even if they are hateful toward us we are to love them. God loved us, first. We should return that live by living God’s commands, which are based faith ( you must believe in god before you know him, then comes love). This is the love God wants to see add you progress in the faith: love everyone as yourself, that means doing onto them as you would want them to do to you, and pray for your enemies salvation too. That is just some examples.
Great blog 😊
That was reflective. Thank you.
Amen
In His love there is freedom and no condemnation😇
Really true!
More words of wisdom. God bless.
Wow, we as the church of Christ need to create a secure environment of love & freedom.
Well put. It’s a high calling coz it’s only attainable by letting Christ Jesus love thru us, by our own selves we cannot do it.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you
I love the way you relate the context of love to the Bible verses..I hope millions of people around the world will read this and will apply as we are now in the midst of conflict causing depression, brokenness and destruction…
Again thank you and God bless!
This is true but it’s not all about love I think. God has unconditional love and is slow to anger. Slow doesnt mean it won’t happen. He does eventually get angry right? Psalm 139:21-22 it speaks of hating those that the Lord hates. God has also given us the intrinsic ability to hate and still be right by Him or I misinterpreted the verse wrongly?
If not, then who or when do we hate ?
Thx for the message of love
Very well explained and written
What is this LOVE ?