The greatest commandment to us all that sums up the entire Scriptures is to love God with our whole heart and to love others. When others see us loving as defined in the Bible, they see the Father. God wants us to be vessels of this type of love to His people.
Everywhere Jesus went, He allowed divine love and passion to flow out of Him. He loved people no matter what. When we let love cover us completely, no matter what situation we are in, no matter who we are around, when we are leaning on Jesus for His strength and ability to love, our lives can be transformed and our relationships enriched. People are the most important thing to God.
Many years ago, when my father was alive, he went to Israel to minister. Every morning he would go to a coffee shop for breakfast. He became acquainted with the owner of the coffee shop. One morning, he didn’t go due to the business of his schedule. The next morning, the owner informed my dad that one of his regular customers had asked where my father had been. He had asked the owner, “Where is that man who has God in his eyes”.
You see, he couldn’t even speak my dad’s language, but he had been watching my dad and saw something tangible. He saw God in his eyes. How was that? Perhaps through his kindness, his gentleness, and his joy; but ultimately, it was his love. People ought to look at us and see the love of God in our lives.
Love is more than just a feeling. It’s a choice. That’s why the Bible says to put on the garment of love. We can’t wait for feelings to motivate us to love others. If we did, we would be waiting forever! Instead, every day we must focus on the fact that we need to walk in love.
A few years back, I made it a daily declaration of faith to pray 1 Corinthians 13 over my life, and I encourage you to do the same. Even if in the past you feel you’ve missed the mark in your love walk, love is something you can fix. You can work on it. Love can be cultivated.
At Lakewood Church, we encourage everyone to come up higher in their faith. Yet in Galatians 5:6, it actually says that the only thing that counts is faith expressing its self through love. We need to walk in faith, but we need to make sure at the same time, we are putting in as much effort to walk in perfect love.
Perfect love is described in 1 Corinthians 13. It says, “Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth. It always protects. Always trusts. Always hopes. Always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Let me encourage you to take a look at your love language. How’s it looking? How’s your love walk? If you were like me, maybe struggling in one of those areas, I challenge and encourage you to make 1 Corinthians your daily declaration, and you will come up higher in your love.
