A major key to walking in love
I believe that the highest calling for any christian is to walk in love. We know that God is love and every single choice that He makes is a result of His nature. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have a new nature. We have God’s faith nature inside of us, and we also have His love nature inside of us. Then why are we not always walking exactly the same way as Jesus? I’m glad you asked. I believe that Christ will be able to live through us to the degree, that our own will is submitted to His will. We find His will in His Word, the bible.
In a time where human philosophy is even influencing christianity (e.g. Man is inherently good, God is bad), we are often so familiar with certain terms, that we don’t even know anymore what we are talking about. The world calls it love when it feels good. God called it love when it was very sacrificial and felt horrible, and cost the life of His Son. So, first of all, let’s discover what love is.
1. Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
I believe a major key to walk in love is… the bible! This might surprise you, but let me explain. We all have seen that a lot of theological knowledge doesn’t necessarily do a lot of good. We have seen the people who are “puffed up”, because they just know too much. But that’s not what I’m talking about.
One of my favorite bible teachers and evangelists E.W. Kenyon said, “What I do with the Word will determine what the Word will do to me one of these days.”
Walking in Love has everything to do with how the Word functions in our lives. You can know everything, but it is not applied, it won’t benefit you. You can have soap, but if you don’t use it, you won’t get clean. You can have 20 bibles at home, and yet you still don’t walk in love.
One of Jesus’ disciples and His younger half brother, James, explains, “Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22). You can be a bible student of many years and yet you are deceiving yourself, because you are not DOING the Word. Knowing the Word in our heads is valuable, but it is supposed to be a part of our lives, living inside of us, and functioning through us. If we come with the Word before God, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, it can build Christ’s character, His wisdom, and His power inside of us. It will compel us to action, to live the very thing that we believe.
I found out that when there is any trouble or struggle in my own life it can be traced back almost every single time to a lack of the Word of God functioning in my life. If we are governed by the Word we will be peaceful, we don’t loose sight of Jesus and the Spirit of God will emanate from our lives.
Isaiah 26:3
” You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.”
So, practically spoken, walking in love has so much to do with us being governed entirely by God’s Word. Let me give you an example. Recently somebody said something to me, which was complete nonsense. In fact it felt more like an insult to me. We all have experienced something similar, right? I’ve seen that if somebody says something to me out of insecurity, envy or fear, or criticizes, judges or even insults me, it will not affect me in any way, when I’m full of God’s Word. Why? Because when my spirit is full of what God says, I don’t even have time to dwell on that! That is what doing the Word means. When I didn’t spend adequate time in scripture – I end up dwelling on it. That’s not a religious formula but God has given us simple tools that make it easier to be what He wants us to be. Jesus said that “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” The Word and the Spirit, that is really what we live by and what ENABLES a believer to walk in love like Jesus. Walking in love means exactly that – people insult us, and we are not offended. People hurt us, and we pray for them. Jesus was beaten, mocked and scorned, yet He walked in love, all the way to hell.
I pray that you have a renewed perspective on the bible today. Pick up the book, come before the Father in the presence of God, and ask Him to make you more like Jesus. Then read it, study it and DO IT. If you read about healing, look for people to pray for. If you read about salvation, share Jesus with somebody. If you read about unconditional love, pray for that one person who has something against you.
God Bless!
