Making of a man/woman of God, part 2

Theme: Become a more loving person.   

Introduction:

When I think of the character of God, the first thing I think of is love. God is love. To become a man/woman of God, you have to progressively become a more loving person. You grow in love.   

A stumbling block to growing in love is a misunderstanding what love is. Many people think love is a feeling or that you fall in love. Some think love is enabling others to be involved in destructive behaviors, that you never correct or discipline another. The fact is these are unloving behaviors. If I love someone, I will speak the truth to them, even if it causes temporary pain. I look at like this: if I am a doctor and someone I love has cancer, then I will do everything in my power to tell them the truth and to remove the cancer. Sin is a spiritual cancer, the most loving thing you can do, is empower someone to cut the sin out. That will bring life to them.

What is love?

1. Love is a choice

“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Colossians‬ ‭3:14‬ ‬‬‬‬‬

God would not ask you to do something unless it was possible for you to do it. When God instructs you to put on love, he is saying chose to love. You do not fall into love, it is a choice of your will. That means there is no person beyond your power to love. No matter what he/she may have done to you, you can choose to love them.

2. Love is an action verb.

Love is not a feeling, it is an action, a behavior. I heard a man say that he and his wife no longer felt in love. The counselor said there was an easy solution. What? Love her. But we don’t feel in love. His reply was to love her.

Feelings follow actions. Marriage is a covenant, you don’t just treat your spouse well when you feel like but you choose to love her everyday. You can choose to be kind to someone. You can choose not to strike out in anger. You can choose to do the dishes. You can choose a multiple of things to express love to a person without feeling like doing it.

3. Love seeks the highest good of another. It is unconditional, giving, sacrificial love.

Love is not about what you get out of it but what you can put into it. It is not about getting your needs met but about meeting the needs of others. Love is a great opportunity to practice sowing and reaping. Sow seeds of love into a relationship and you will reap a harvest of love. Focus on meeting the needs of others and your needs will be met. The highest level of love is unconditional and sacrificial. I think of those who care for their spouses when an illness comes, that is love. Their spouse is incapable of giving back but that is not the issue. They entered into a covenant that said for better or for worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. So they choose to love!

Today Remember:

1. Love is a choice

2. Love is an action verb

3. Love seeks the highest good of another. It is unconditional, giving, sacrificial, love.

Today’s action step

 Do an act of kindness to your roommate(s) this week without expecting anything in return.

*Next time we will discuss how you can grow in love.