Let love be a focus in your life. “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16) If you say God lives within you then you are love, your actions and words should be a reflection. Words are empty without action, thus let your actions portray the love that is within you. Show love to one another and love to God by keeping his commands. “Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” (1 John 4:21) Let us overcome those in this world and the ruler of this world (the devil) with love. God created each of us because of his love for us. Because of God’s love, you have been blessed with mercy and grace. Love is a powerful thing, it can conquer all things and overcome all obstacles. “Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:8)
You are to show love to your neighbor, love all of God’s children, love those who are need, love those who are in pain, and love those who wish to do you harm. I know this last one is easier said than done; however, the burden of carrying hate is a lot heavier than love. Hate leads to bitterness, unhappiness and allows sin to have control of your life. “God teaches us love by putting some unlovely people around us. It takes no character to love people who are lovely and loving to you.”- Rick Warren You build your character by showing love regardless of what is shown to you. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16) Scripture says lay down a life, not take down a life. No man or woman has the authority or right to take the life of another; however, this is what is occurring in this world. It appears that people of the world have no concept of love or have love in their heart. It is inconceivable, incomprehensible to me, how another person can think it is okay to take the life of another. A life is being taken due to the sin taking control in this world. Sin is ruling the mind of the person taking the life. Their mind is filled with envy, pride, and hate. Not a day passes without the news including a story regarding the senseless death of another person, a random act of violence due to a person allowing the flesh to control, the sinful nature of mankind. Know that each of us will be held accountable for what is done in this life. Know this world is not the end, God’s word is true.
Let love be in your heart. Let the love of God reside within you. Let us pray for love to permeate throughout this world, turning everyone towards love. Let us pray that people be filled with love and the love of God. Let us pray for all mankind to have love and be LOVE. “If you do not have love, you will only be a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
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