not love

‘My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God …’ I John 4:1_MSG

We have spent almost an entire month dedicated to love

We have talked extensively about what love is and what it looks like

However, I would be remiss if I did not dedicate at least one day to caution –

Cautions concerning love

It should be easy to see from our discussion the behaviors and attitudes run contrary to love

Yet we can often be blinded by the light and fail to recognize what is not love

Understand that even ‘the enemy disguises himself as an angel of light’ [II Corinthians 11:14]

Yet ‘we are not ignorant of the devices of the enemy’ [II Corinthians 2:11]

Impatient, unkind, envious, boastful, arrogant, rude – not love

Selfish, manipulative, irritable and resentful – not love

Rejoicing in wrongdoing and inventing ways to be evil – certainly not love

Lying, abandoning, accusing and destroying – not love

It should be obvious that these things are not love

But sometimes the packaging causes confusion – often times, it is the package bearer

‘Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people … rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself.’ II Timothy 3:1-9MSG

Therefore, ‘Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.’ I Peter 5:8

Be sober-minded but do not be fearful

Remember that Jesus said that, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.’ John 10:10

But also bear in mind that He, Jesus came ‘that we might have life and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10)

Keep in the forefront of your mind that He has defeated the works of the enemy. ‘For this purpose was the Son of God made manifest.’ I John 3:8

Never forget that, ‘The eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him.’ II Chronicles 16:9

And for the people who choose to partner with the enemy?

Love them – just as Christ commanded

It is easier said than it is to walk out in everyday application, I know

Yet the command remains, ‘Love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them.’ Matthew 5:44TPT

Understand that ‘the LORD is not slow in keeping His promise as some consider slowness. Instead, He is patient … not wanting anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance.’ II Peter 3:9

He will deal with them in His own time – trust me

But more importantly, trust Him

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.’

Galatians 6:7AMP

love undeniable

‘If I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.’ I Corinthians 13:2

I pray and trust you slept well last night

I did – and wanted to get this post up before I am up and out of the door

We are in the homestretch of our love month – undeniably near the end

Yet true love is undeniable and unending

 

I was watching a series on Netflix last night … and into this morning

And in this Korean drama, the lead character ends up getting shot

Not very romantic, right?

It is not romantic – but the reason he took the bullet is truly romantic

He jumped in the way of a gun that was pointed at the leading lady

He almost died as a result of his injuries

Yet, there was something interesting about his actions; his actions were not consistent with his words –

Up until that point (and following that incident), he kept denying that he had feelings for her – vehemently denying any feelings for her

Yet, the thing about love is that love is undeniable – the heart betrays the mind

Now, I know it was just a movie

But there are people who go to such extremes – in their love and their protection of those they love.  We have a living example in the sacrifice Jesus made for us:

‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ John 15:13

I said it in one of our other posts that love will make you do some things

‘Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.’ James 2:15-17

Now we know faith is a strong thing

However, we also know from Scripture that love is even greater than faith

So, where is the profit in a man who claims to have ‘love’ if there is no corresponding action?

Whether you are proclaiming love or denying it, your actions will always be ‘the tell’

Couples could tell you of undeniable declarations of love evidenced by actions

Parents can certainly tell of and show their undeniable love for their children

The point is  that love, true love, is undeniable

It speaks even when it wishes to remain silent

It moves when it desires to be uninvolved and removed

 

Today –

As we think about undeniable love, let us exam ourselves

What are we proving about love?

It matters even more than what we are saying about love – and it is undeniable

 

Have a Blessed Day!

 

‘‘Love must be sincere …’ Romans 12:9 NIV

‘Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it’ Romans 12:9 MSG