Just like a mere thought…
Just
this morning as I was praying, majorly confessing how much of God’s Love
resides in me and how much consumed I am by it that expressing it towards
others becomes a spontaneous thing, I had an insight dropped on my inside like
a question and, amazingly, a stream of answer began to flow immediately. The
question started out like, “do you really know why Apostle Paul referred to
Love as ‘the most excellent way’ even after expatiating on several amazing and
admirable gifts of the Holy Spirit which are in every way needed in the church
and highly worthy of being coveted?”. Immediately searching through my spirit,
being fully persuaded that the Holy Spirit would not bring up a question in
one’s heart unless He is ready to provide the answer, the answers came rushing
in so fast as though they would soon fly away…smiles.
What
about the gifts?
The
demonstrations of the gifts of the Spirit are obviously a depiction of a
greater or supernatural force in action. They keep reminding us even in the
sense realm of the non-stop existence of our living God. They encourage the
hearts of believers to want to become more grounded in their knowledge of God.
They convince unbelievers of the might or mightiness of our all-powerful God,
put their senses to shame, and by so doing, create a free course for the gospel
in their hearts and draw them to the place of repentance and salvation.
However, some(unbelievers) could still attempt to explain them way by trying to
class them with the various duplications by the proponents of the dark
kingdom—the fortune tellers, the sorcerers, the magicians, etc. They tend to
mimic these spiritual demonstrations in the most cunning ways, eventually
coming up with some “fake things” enough to beguile some weak minds, even some
not-so-informed believers.
Love,
the fundamental proof…
Now
the point is this, this God-kind of Love in a believer cannot be duplicated;
morality falls flat beside it. It cannot be possessed by any other means
besides being in Christ. It is the most vivid indication of the presence of God
in a man (1John 3:14). It is the strongest pointer to the need for a kind of
life (zoe) which is accessible only through the Saviour (Jesus Christ) and
which is impossible to obtain by mere human will or might(Luke 10:25-28). The
greatest of all wisdom literatures on morality and right living stand worthless
and speechless at the sight of this kind of life in demonstration. It is a kind
of love that gives even when there is no legal assurance or indebtedness on the
part of the receiver to return the kind gesture. It enables it bearer or vessel
to love each and every person he meets on his path profusely unconditionally
irrespective of the person’s portfolio of race, gender, religion, or
perspectives to life. This love values everyone—believers and unbelievers—with
the same value it places on Christ, understanding the fact that the true value
or worth of anyone or thing is how much one is willing to pay for it. It cost
God to purchase in arrears and in advance (Romans 3:25-26) every single person
on earth and everyone should be valued as such. Yes, some may not yet have
entered into the plan of God by the reason of ignorance. Their worth,
nevertheless, still remains Christ even in their unsaved state. This is how God
values every human, and only the God-kind of love perfectly understands this
and treats everyone on his way as such.
It
is patient and kind towards all, causing its vessel(the believer) to be willing
to inconvenience himself physically for the sake of others’ wellbeing, in order
to gain that priceless joy, comfort and convenience that can only be got from
within: from an acquaintance to and agreement with the cravings of the new man,
all culminating in expressed love. The God-kind of love just cares for and is
ever happy to see everyone it sees on his way even without having any logical
reason to do so. It does not envy because it causes its bearer to understand
and recognize his uniqueness (in purpose, vision and course in life). He boasts
not in his human self but only in the Lord, his source of succour(1Cor.1:31,
Heb.13:5-5, 2Cor.3:5). He is never proud and never dishonours others because he
places everyone on the same pedestal as Christ in value. the bearer of this
Love has the immeasurable ability to absorb anger and dissolve it in no time,
keeping no record of even done to him. He feels strong disgust toward any
involvement with evil and rejoices with whatsoever is in tune with the truth of
the gospel, always in readiness to bring everything—lifestyle, decisions, steps,
approach, likes and involvements—to the obedience of Christ and His finished
work.
Come
on…there is still more…
He
selflessly protects the image of others whether they are present or absent,
speaking evil of no man. He trusts to see the best spring up in the lives of
others, their prevailing current circumstances notwithstanding. He keeps hoping
for greater things ahead at all times no matter the discomforting situation (Romans
5:5. 8:18). He is not self-conscious and self-seeking; he is simply need-driven.
He does not think about his possible apparent incapability or care about social
image. He clearly sees needs, simply believes all needs can be met by the
kingdom citizens (Luke 13:32,Matt.5:13-14) and goes ahead to employ his
resources(Eph.1:3,2Peter 1:3) to meet these needs of people—both spiritual and
physical.
A
present day reality; workable and simple!
This
Love is not just a mere theoretical fact with interesting appealing
compositions or characteristics meant for head-knowledge and erudite exposition.
Rather, it is a spiritual truth with free access by the new creation person as
I have come to know experientially. Unbelievers can resist your “theory of
salvation” if that’s all salvation seems to mean to you presently—a sound
theory—but they definitely cannot deny or resist the message wrapped up in this
life of love we talk about. It is not just a life to be hoped for in the age to
come. No! It is a present time reality of the new creation man even in this
present age. It is not something to be struggled about in order to obtain. It
is simply are the core of the new creation’s life—automatically!—ready to be
worked out. And whatsoever is from God is simple in approach or procedure and
never burdensome (Matt.11:28-30). If you feel so burdened, or out of balance,
weighed down or miserable in your walk with God presently, then you simply are
yet to get something right somewhere. Go to God in prayer, seek that He reveals
His truths to you, spend time with the word and be expectant of revelations,
the lay hold on what you get and walk in it—as simple as that! You may need the
help of fellow believers in this. So search your heart and approach anyone you
perceive could be in possession of what you need—especially those who already
are walking in the reality of that which you are seeking.
Releasing
yourself to the flow of Love…
God
has called us into a life and given us just one singular commandment of
love to live peaceably in this arena, always working it in us(Phil.2:13). So
all we need do is to moving with His flow on the tricycle of scriptures
reading, prayer, and songs of praise and worship. It is as simple as that! As
you give yourself to these activities consistently, genuinely, and not mere
religiously, the outflow of this life of law just becomes so spontaneous
through you that giving or showing love becomes easier to you than doing
otherwise. You start seeing need through the eyes of love, and meet them
through the abilities of the Holy Ghost.
Then alongside this, almost without
consciously planning for it, you find yourself always reigning in life above
situations, sins, sicknesses and everything that is against the realities of
the finished work of Christ. Spiritual things are simple; the spiritual life is
meant to be simple. And it is! All we need is the right understanding which can
only be acquired by our conscious decisions and efforts to get ourselves
acquainted with the Father of Love, who freely gives us all things, through the
various resources that abound around us—spirit-lifting sermons by
result-producing men of God, in addition to the basic ones already
mentioned(the tricycle).
Get
it straight, lay hold on it, and keep reigning…
God’s
love is real both towards man (salvation) and it is also the present day
reality expressible through the believer (Christian living). It is meant to be
expressed, not just talked about, wilfully, enjoyably, peaceably…not a thing to
be struggled with. As many as have found out the simplicity of this life of
love;
We keep resting in grace,
Walking in Love,
And in life, we reign as kings.
Glory to God!
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