Practical Love

As we celebrate Christ, this holiday, it is important to reflect on what He represents. Christ is love; He is the foundation of Christianity. As Believers, we are called to demonstrate the love of Christ. The true church is identified by love. Jesus Christ summed up the law in two commands: “Love God and love your neighbour as you love yourself. 1 John 4:20 says, “If anyone says , ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” True love is not only in confession but in actions. Our actions attest of our relationship with Christ. James 2:26 reminds us that faith without action is dead.

What is love according to the Word of God?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

What is love?

Love is not speaking in tongues, love is not prophecy, love is not giving to the needy. So, what is love? The Bible describes the characteristics of love.

PATIENCE

Love is patient. The world we live in is moving amazingly fast and people have become impatient. As Christians, we must always remember to be patient. We ought to be patient with one another. We must exercise patience with our loved ones and those around us. Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Remember patience when you are stuck in a traffic jam, be patient when someone cuts you on the highway. Patience is forbearance. It is selfrestraint. The ability to not giving way to anger even when provoked.

Having patience means you can remain calm, even when you have been waiting forever or dealing with something

painstakingly slow or trying to teach someone how to do something and they just do not get it. gestures for expressed in acts. Kindness is seen through our conduct with those around us.

LOVE IS KIND!

The dictionary defines kindness as “the virtue of showing love and the qualities of having a sympathetic, affectionate, warmhearted, and considerate nature. Any virtue can be considered as the power to accomplish good, often in the face of obstacles and at the cost of sacrifice.” Kindness begins in the heart. Kindness is wishing the best for others, and this is expressed in Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Believers are called to be kind and compassionate towards fellow human beings. How do we communicate with those around us? How is our speech? How do we feel when those around us are in trouble? Jesus Christ felt compassion for those who faced challenges, even

when he was in pain, bleeding and hanging on the cross for a crime he did not commit, he still interceded for his perpetrators, those who had caused him so much anguish and pain.

LOVE DOES NOT ENVY!

What is Envy? Sin of jealousy over the blessings and achievements of others, especially the spiritual enjoyment and advancement in the kingdom of Christ freely and graciously bestowed upon the people of God.

There is so much envy in the church and in the world. Instead of genuine happiness for fellow saints advancing the Kingdom of God, we find ourselves speaking against them and labeling them names. Envy is what motivated the Pharisees to attack Jesus Christ. They were jealous because crowds were following the Lord and He was growing popular.

Matthew 27:18

“For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.”

This is the same scenario in the body of Christ today. Ministers envy those with more followers. This leads to rivalry, and many have gone out of their way to secure alternative power to draw numbers to their congregations, we have witnessed numerous false miracles to draw crowds. May we not be swayed from the path of light due to envy and rivalry.

Sometimes there is rivalry amongst friends and siblings, and it all grows from the seed of envy. We must learn to be happy for others and wait for our turn.

Envy makes us despise those who are doing better than us. Envy is what led Cain to kill his brother. It is a seed of wickedness and is the cause of rifts amongst family and friends.

Galatians 5:19-21 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Love does not boast! It is not proud!

When we understand biblical love, we will cease to think too highly of ourselves. We will understand that we are not superior, and that all we have received was giving to us by the grace of God. There is no need to boast in our abilities and accomplishments instead we ought to give God all the praise for everything. We must not be self-centered, but we must be humble. The love of Christ is giving and is all about serving others. It is not about drawing attention to self but to the Creator and others. In this era of social media, people are becoming too self-centered, and self-worshiping.

Philippians 2:3 ESV Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let us learn to be humble. Let us see others as more significant than us.

James 4:16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

May our boasting be in the Lord. Let us not be self-conceited but remain humble in the Lord. Humility is of God but pride is not of God. In our speech and action let us remain humble.

Love is NOT Rude!

Love behaves appropriately and it is not unbecoming. The love of God will not cause a scene and will not embarrass others. We ought to behave ourselves out there as representatives of Christ. Our speech and our actions must reflect the light we carry. How we communicate with others says a lot about who we are. As Believers, let us be mindful of the words we say even in moments of anger.

Matthew 5:16 16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

LOVE IS NOT SELF SEEKING!

Philippians 2:4 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Love puts others first before self, contrary to the standard of this world which encourages us to put ourselves first. Have you noticed that real happiness comes when we help others. Nothing is as pleasing as making someone else happy. When we learn to focus on the needs of others more than our own needs, we will find fulfillment in life. Love is not selfish but cares for others. Interceding for others, going before God with other people’s prayer requests. We must become selfless, sacrificing ourselves for the sake of others. Let us learn to give our time and our wealth to those who need them. The world is bleeding, let us reach out to those who are overwhelmed and struggling. This is the true religion that is pleasing to the Lord. The world needs the love and light of God! Jesus showed love in this way: He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). No self-seeking there.

Christian love is not about “self” but about serving. Putting love into practice involves following the example of Jesus, considering the needs and interests of others, and denying our personal desires to serve those in need.

To Be Continued……./