Add Love (Charity) [3]

Dearly Beloved, I trust this finds you well and bubbling in the Lord. We continue our study on 2 Peter 1v5-7 (MSG) which says “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, …” From Galatians 5v22 (AMP) we see that “… the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes]…” among other things is love, and we know love is patient, kind, not rude, not envious, not boastful or proud, ready to believe the best of people, doesn’t bear record of wrong doing, endures all things, bears all things, never fails… (see 1 Corinthians 13). 1 John 4v7-8 (NLT) says “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Child of God, you have the capacity to love. If you know God and have a personal relationship with Him and His Spirit is in you, then you can love, “… For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” (Romans 5v5, NLT).

Walk in love. Practice it. For instance if you find yourself thinking bad of someone, you say, Lord, I choose to believe the best of this person because that is what love does, and you bring the other bitter thought captive, and to the obedience of Christ – and tell God you forgive them of anything you have against them. [I even ask Him to wipe clean with His blood any “ought” I have against them – for love doesn’t keep records of being wronged]. Someone is promoted, getting married, or getting something that you are also looking to God for, well, love is not envious, or jealous, so you rejoice with them, congratulate them. If you are feeling envious or jealous, you pray and say, Lord I thank You for the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by Your Spirit, and love does not envy, please remove this envy from my heart, and fill me afresh with Your love. In fact, go on to pray for the person that God will bless them, increase them, help them to do well in their job or marriage or … and you can pray for your needs to a merciful God. Amen.

Supplementary Text

“Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.” 1 John 4v15-16 (AMP)

Prayer

Are you finding you are haven’t allowed yourself to love the Lord or others as you ought, why don’t you take some time to pray about it now? Our God is faithful, and He is very willing to help us.