Chosen by God!
“Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32 MSG)
When we walk in love, we can make a clean break from all cutting, backbiting, and profane talk about one another. Instead, we build each other up, doing good for one another and speaking well of each other. This love will cause us to esteem others highly and do all we can to help them succeed. In other words, we will prefer others over ourselves. Because we’re secure in our position in Christ, we can joyfully serve others knowing that we will be served. We can give of ourselves trusting God with the outcome.
When we walk in love, forgiveness is a way of life. Holding grudges takes too much energy. At the core of being able to forgive easily is being willing to see past the actions and feel the pain of the one who hurt us. When we remember how much God has forgiven us, and continues to forgive us, how can we not forgive those who hurt us?
To live this Scripture we must be anchored in love, the Jesus kind of love that is willing to lay down our lives, make sacrifices for others, and surrender to God’s will in every action and word we speak. Ultimately, if we live our lives based on, “Not my will Father, but Your will be done,” we will reflect true life-changing love, giving hope to a confused world, and will greatly impact the world for Jesus.
In all our relationships let love be our filter. When love is our goal we see like Jesus sees and we can act like Jesus acts. When we love, we look like Jesus. Love causes us to think the best of people. Make love, God’s love your default in all your relationships and interactions with people.
This is the kind of love the Holy Spirit has deposited in us:
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].” (I Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP)
Be Encouraged! ❤
Leisa Wilkins Ministries
"Encouraging and Empowering you to become who God created you to be, God's Masterpiece, a Divine Original!"
Pastor | Author | Bible Teacher | Speaker | Encourager
www.leisawilkins.com