A CLOSER LOOK AT LOVE

ITS EASY TO SAY WE LOVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSE TO US AND TO KNOW THAT WE LOVE THEM IN RETURN.  I LOVE MY CHILDREN, MY PARENTS, OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND CLOSE FRIENDS.  I KNOW THAT I LOVE THEM AND THEY KNOW IT TOO.  I SHARE AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE BASED UPON EMOTION WITH THESE PEOPLE.  IN MY "NOTE" TODAY, I WANNA TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT LOVE....AGAPE LOVE, GODLY LOVE, BROTHERLY LOVE!

IN OUR DAILY LIVES, WE OFTEN PICK AND CHOOSE WHO WE LIKE, LOVE OR EVEN TOLERATE.  WE OFTEN BECOME ANGRY WITH OTHERS AND SIMPLY WRITE THEM OFF, BAD-MOUTH THEM OR TAKE PLEASURE IN THEIR MISFORTUNES.  WE FIND IT EASY TO POINT OUT THEIR FAULTS, WHILE IGNORING OUR OWN.  AROUND HERE, PEOPLE ARE OFTEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING.  IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS, CAIN KILLED HIS BROTHER ABEL.  WE COMMIT SPIRITUAL MURDER DAILY WHEN WE CHOOSE TO IGNORE GOD'S COMMANDMENT THAT WE WALK IN LOVE (MARK 12:30,31). 

WE PROFESS TO LOVE THE LORD, BUT OUR ACTIONS DEMONSTRATE OTHERWISE WHEN WE CHOOSE NOT TO LOVE.  GODLY LOVE IS AN ACTION, NOT AN EMOTION.  WE MUST DECIDE DAILY TO WALK IN LOVE, NOT HATE.  WE MUST FORGIVE OTHERS SO THAT WE MAY BE FORGIVEN AS WELL.  LUKE 6:27-28 TELLS US TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU.  ROMANS 12:14 SAYS TO BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU;  BLESS AND DO NOT CURSE.  THESE COMMANDS GO DIRECTLY AGAINST OUR SINFUL HUMAN NATURE.   DEVELOPING GODLY LOVE CAN BE QUITE DIFFICULT, BUT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.  GOD IS LOVE!  WITHOUT LOVE, WE CANNOT SEE THE FACE OF GOD.  IN ORDER FOR US TO BE FORGIVEN, WE MUST FIRST FORGIVE.  FORGIVENESS AND LOVE GO HAND IN HAND.  WE WONT FIND ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER! 

LOVE IS A BASIC CONCEPT OF THE BIBLE.  WITHOUT IT, WE ARE NOTHING.  GOD LOVES US ALL SO MUCH, EVEN WHEN WE DONT DESERVE IT.  WE DONT GET OURSELVES OUT OF JAMS, GOD DOES THROUGH HIS LOVE AND MERCY.  IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY, AS CHRISTIANS, TO SHOW THE SAME MERCY AND LOVE TO EVERYONE.  IT IS A REQUIREMENT.  IT IS NECESSARY.  IT IS HIS FIRST COMMANDMENT.   LETS WALK IN LOVE SO THAT WE MIGHT ALL ENJOY HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT!

JOHN 13:35  "BY THIS ALL WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER"