Love is a word that is often misunderstood, manipulated and/or distorted. Depending on the environment you were in as a child and what you heard or saw when you were a child determines how you define love. Love takes on many shapes and forms. We have brotherly love, family, spouse and friendship love; however, no matter what love we experienced, God’s love is higher than any other love out here.
In order to share the love of God it denotes action. It requires us to give or distribute something; however, it can be difficult for some of us to share of ourselves when we are going through something. Jesus was the perfect example of getting outside Himself to share the love of God. When He was on the cross, He was bleeding, suffering, hurting, weak and in pain; but yet in spite of His own agony, He showed love and forgiveness when He said, “forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Love and forgiveness is the very essence of who God is. 2 Corinthians 5:14 says that the love of Christ constrains us. That means His love urges, impels and controls us. God’s love will urges or impel us to go out of our way and demonstrate God’s love that will impact others lives. God’s love has the power to save a life, restore a life and/or mend a life. Once we get out the way, then we can allow God’s love to flow through us. God’s love, if we allow it, will restrain us from fulfilling the lust of the flesh. It will bring about a level of control over the dictates of our flesh. My question to you is… what’s leading you? When a situation arises in your life that isn’t all that favorable, do you yield to the dictates of your flesh or do you yield to Holy Spirit. When we begin to yield to Holy Spirit that is when the love of God is constraining us.
So how do we cultivate/develop God’s love in us? Romans 8:5-8 tells that the carnal mind is enmity against God. Our flesh does not want to submit to the will of God. So therefore, those who are after the flesh will mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit will mind the things of the Spirit.
In order for God’s love to be developed in us, we must practice the following:
1. Practice getting into the presence of God. It is imperative that we don’t just pray on the run. We must develop a regiment where we have one on one time with the Lord. Prayer is good, but God also wants to commune with us. Being still in the presence of God, fine tunes our spirit man to be sensitive to His voice and leading. Being still in the presence of God is where He begins to pour into us our substance and supply and nourishment.
2. Begin to ask God to show you what are the opposing forces operating in you that is contrary to His nature. We have to get pass the “bless me” prayers and really begin to ask God to show us the things that are not pleasing to Him. Psalms 51:6 says “that you desire truth in our inward parts…” and Psalms 139:23 says, “search me, O God, and know my heart and see if there be any hurt in us…” It is the will of God for us to be cleansed, not only outwardly but inwardly. It is our responsibility to get before God and allow Him to show us those areas that need surrendering to Him.
3. Bind up every hindrance and obstacle in your life that keeps you from receiving the fullness of God in your life. Luke 10:19 tells us that we have authority over all the works of the enemy. So it is up to us to use the authority that was given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. Take a stand against every negative emotion and every evil foe that would try to stop the flow of God’s love from operating in and through your life.
The love of God IN YOU will produce – self confidence, security, identity and purpose. The more of God’s love we allow to abound in our lives, will be the more of His love that can display through our lives. Just like Jesus, who was the perfect example of LOVE, demonstrated love, even throughout a difficult time.
Don’t let what you are going through; stop you from sharing the love of God this season.
