This is my final post on "Abounding Love." In it, I want to emphasize the importance of "faith" and "love" working together. The key to our faith working effectively is for us to walk in the divine love of God.
If you have a faith that works by love, it will measure up to all the standards set forth in the Word of God. We know that we receive things by faith, but it is a faith that works by love. I want to share with you five ways that faith and love work together.
1. Love Builds A Yielding Ability
In John 15:13, Jesus tells his disciples: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend." This ability to yield to others, as Jesus demonstrated, is built through divine love. When you do this, it will help in your relationships with your spouse, children, boss, God, and others.
2. Love Is The Way To Christian Maturity
3. It Helps Restore Others
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself lest thou also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1) Many Christians want to tell everything on somebody who has been overtaken in a fault rather than cover that fault with love and silence and help restore them. Abounding love and our faith will give us the ability to restore others who have fallen rather than tear them down.
4. Love Will Cover All Sin
Two verses speak to the heart of this point. The first is Proverbs 10:12 - "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins." The second is 1 Peter 4:8 - "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."
These verses don't mean you "ignore" it when someone does something wrong. What they are saying is when you have abounding love you will not be offended when you are harmed by others regardless of their motives.
5. Love Prefers One Another
Love doesn't seek to put "self" first, rather it seeks and prefers others over self! This preferring is a way of honoring others. Showing them deference or humble submission and respect. Love says, "If you are offended by what I am doing, then I won't do it!" Romans 12:10 - "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." Love puts others first.
Share The Love
The love of God must be the controlling factor in your life. Find a place to start showing love. Help a neighbor, a friend, or co-worker and start giving away some of the love God has spread abroad in your heart.
-- Pastor Temple
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