LOVE IS FROM GOD AND IT WILL NEVER FAIL

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”  
(Matthew 5:43-44)

MEDITATION:
Remember when you received your first driver’s license?
It was exciting to know that you could now legally drive a car.
Not only could you drive, 
but you also had a new id card that proved you were allowed to drive.

Your driver’s license included a picture (maybe not for some of us before 
pictures were included), and some information about you (height, weight, etc.).
Whenever we surrender our lives to the Lord, the information about us changes.
If we owned a Christian id card, the information about us would include,
“knows how to love others”.

Whenever God saves us, He begins a transformation process 
that creates in us a likeness of His Son, Jesus.
The more we become like Him, the more our capacity to love increases.
We are taken out of the rut we have been living and given a new focus, 
a new attitude, new priorities and a new appreciation for God and His creations. 

We are able to love not only those who love us, 
but also those who may disappoint or cause problems for us.
How could we make this quantum leap to a new kind of love?
It is because when we love God, we learn to love the people He created.

In the book of James, we are told about the hypocrisy 
of loving God and failing to love His creations.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse 
human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same 
mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 
(James 3:9-10)

As our appreciation for our salvation from God increases, 
we make a choice to no longer straddle the proverbial fence, but 
to pull away from the grip of Satan and to stand on the same side with Jesus.
We learn to love in a similar manner that He loves.

And when we do, our id includes a new vital statistic:
“that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise 
on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” 
(Matthew 5:45)

We become identified as “children of our Father in heaven”.
It is a moniker that we can proudly wear because 
it is our guarantee that heaven is our ultimate destination.
Until then we live with Him in Spirit, 
but one day we will live with Him physically for all eternity.
Knowledge of that fact should fill our hearts and souls with a new kind of love.

When H. G. Wells summed up the influence of Jesus in history, he said, 
“Is it any wonder that this Galilean is too much for our small hearts?” 
However, although small, the heart of man is big enough 
for Christ to live in, if we will only make room for Him.
 
The love that Christ talked about can only be given to us by God. 
It is one of the fruits of the Spirit 
we are given during our transformation process.
Our past is forgiven and we receive a new power to love others, 
that exceeds our natural ability to love.

ACTION:
Imagine the void in our lives if we never learn 
to love others in the same manner that God loves us.
Going through life with an asset that was never used 
would be a huge disappointment when we reach the end of our earthy journey.

Don’t look back on your life as a Christian with regret but make a determined 
decision today that you will allow the Lord to love others through you.
Love is a virtue that increases the more it is used, 
so look for opportunities to use it often.
Jesus showed His love for others throughout His time on earth, 
and ultimately from the cross; how are you showing your love?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, instill in me Your Spirit of love which enables 
me to be called a child of Yours. Thank You for Your Word which 
teaches me that love never fails.”

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