And this is exactly what dilutes a believers witness, when our actions don't match our words! Let's speak with our actions and follow that up with words. Let people see Jesus in you before they hear you. Don't talk it. Walk it!
How do we do that? Glad you asked. Love!
"I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]." (John 13:34-35 AMPC)
As believers we are to walk in love and unity with one another. When we're fighting each other, when we are not walking in love then we have effectively shut down our witness and effectiveness for Jesus.
We cannot say we love Jesus while hating His creation. God is love. His nature and character is love. God loves, even when His creation does not love Him. Our lack of response to His love does not change His love for us. And for that we should be so thankful.
He commanded us to love. It wasn't a suggestion. Without love nothing we do will make a difference.
"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT)
We can love, even when it's hard because God has equipped us to love through His Holy Spirit.
"Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." (Romans 5:5 AMPC)
Do you really want to love, to lead with love, to reflect love? Read 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 AMPC out loud. Everywhere you see the word love substitute your name. You'll hear yourself speak the characteristics of love about yourself.
"Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8b AMPC)
Doing this daily will help you build and strengthen your love walk and character. When you believe this is who you are then this is who you will become and how you will act. Love transforms, beginning with us and spreading to others. Got love?
Be Encouraged! ❤
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