February notes! -walk in love

It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.
2 John 1:4-6

"I love that it is written to a woman {most likely a reference to a certain ancient church, but, whatever}, love that it includes children, and love that it boils the Christian faith down to the most basic requirement – to love one another. It’s in the actual doing {the walking} when love makes a difference. Remember our ultimate purpose: to love. Walking in love doesn’t requiring much more than a few extra minutes and some thoughtfulness. The best part of it all is that it doesn’t matter what’s on our feet – high heels or flats, boots or barefoot – we can all walk in love."

 {Jones Design Company blog post from January 23^rd}

Read Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:16, 1 John 4:9, Romans 8:31-39 and talk about the verses. What do these verses have in common? The proof of love is a sacrifice given. This is how GOD showed HIS love for us! He gave HIS Son! Love, agape love, always shows. It cannot help but be expressed. Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared from of old to me [Israel], saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.

~Nothing can separate us from HIS love!
Deuteronomy 7:6: we are HIS prized and most dearly treasured possession!

Agape love comes from the heart of GOD. We must surrender to HIS Holy Spirit fully. When we've failed, when we haven't walked in love, when we haven't obeyed - it should cause us to remember how much more fully and totally we are to be depending on GOD. Rely on HIM! Only HE can help us to walk in love… to grow in love… to respond to others in HIS love. HE is the only one Who can change our hearts and fill us with HIS love. Depend on HIM! Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint).

~The Spirit produces love in our lives.

John 13:35, By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

~it’s a witness to the world around us

(Read Nancy Leigh DeMoss devotional on 1 Corinthians 13)

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Amplified (notice all that the word love is actually agape love, and each time it is mentioned, it is followed by a verb. Remember that loves shows itself!), 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].

You can have more of a Christian lingo than really have the Christian life. We can think we’re living with Christ –when we’re really only talking about Him.

Your hands can so work in service for Christ — that you forget to fall in love with Christ.

~Ann Voskamp

Who do you love the most? List 10 people. Do they know without a doubt that you love them? In what ways are you demonstrating agape love? Have you had to sacrifice for them?

Are you resisting showing love to someone (especially within your family)? GOD calls us to express love even if we don’t feel love. Where is it difficult? Agape love is not a feeling! Pray good things for them!

The key to all of life is one thing: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength. It’s the most important commandment!

Pray to love HIM with everything in you - God, give me a love for you that’s not even normal!!