How to Love
Recently, I wrote a weekly thought titled, “Who are You Loving?” In it, I described what love is and included the Bible’s definition of love.
“Love is patient and kind, love doesn’t envy, boast, or dishonor others; love is not easily angered, doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, and doesn’t delight in evil; rather, love rejoices with the truth; love always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13).
God’s greatest commandment for us is to love Him and to love others. We hear about love everywhere in our culture, including songs, advertisements, shows, and movies. People write all the time on social media that we should love more, and we even hear sermons on it every week in churches across the country. This one word is used excessively in our culture, but do we know what it actually means? Do we love the way God desires us to love?
“Let go to love.”
To fully love another person, including God, we have to start by letting go. We have to let go of past hurts, feelings, preconceived notions, and even the possibility of looking bad in front of others. Jesus completely let go of his life as He hung on a cross for everyone to see His naked and tortured body. He let go to do God’s will and to put others first. You cannot be selfish and also love the way God desires you to love.
Let go, then hold on. Let go of the worries, doubts, hurts, selfishness, and anything else that locks up your life from love. Then hold on to God. Hold on to His promises, His truth, and His plan for you. Also, hold on to others. Hug them, pray for them, tell them you love them. You live in a hurt and dying world, and people all around you need your smile, hug, and encouragement. They need you to hold them in love and then lift them to God.
Here are some important questions for the week to answer and keep in front of you:
1) What do you hold on to and love more than God?
2) What things do you need to let go of?
3) Who do you need to hold on to in your life?
Prayer: “Dear God, I let go of everything, place it all into your hands and choose to hold onto You. As I reach out to you, help me to let go of my worries, doubts, and preconceived ideas about others and so that I can hold them in love. Thank you for those you have placed around me. I pray you will help me lift them to you. Amen.”
Scriptures: I Corinthian 13:3-7