The Bottom Line

One word. Are you ready? Love. That's it. Wish I could say there's more to it but there isn't. Yet since I feel often times we need reminding of what genuine love looks like and not just feels like, lets start in 1 John 3:11,

Here the apostle Paul writes, "This is the message you have heard from the beginning, we should love one another," and in verse 16, "this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." So there are two commands here really, as he reiterates in verse 23 to (a)believe in the name of his son, Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9) and to (b)love one another as he commanded us (Matthew 22:37-39). Remember, there should be no fear in love, because genuine love confirms salvation.

First of all, if you want to experience love the way God desires for us to experience love...well that step begins at salvation because we cant experience the completeness of Gods love apart from him. I have to tell you that there is tremendous freedom when we understand this. Often times our hindrance in loving is rooted in issues with forgiveness. Genuine love perseveres. Genuine love (that lays down its life for another) does not give up no matter how bad it hurts. So when we find ourselves in hurt and despair because of others or in guilt from our treatment to others be encouraged and reminded by
1 Thessalonians 5:13 -15, "Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." If we can take these principles of Gods word and apply them in our walk with God and others, I am certain that we will begin to experience a refreshed heart in loving others as Christ has loved us...genuinely!