Such Great Love - Encouragement Café - Jan. 21, 2015
Such Great Love
Café Menu for Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Today’s Special is: The Super Fruit - Love
Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Carolyn Dale Newell
Main Ingredient:
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NKJV
Entrée:
What is the fruit of the Spirit, and why is love listed first?
The fruits in Galatians 5:22-23 are the characteristics produced by the Holy Spirit. They cannot be worked up, but they are present in a Christian. Love is the first fruit in the list. Therefore, it is the most important one.
Jesus said that the greatest commandments were to love God completely and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:37-39). Who is your neighbor? Jesus answered that question with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). That familiar parable reminds us that our neighbor is anyone who we come in contact with.
Our verse commands us to love one another, and Jesus said,
Love your enemies
Matthew 5:44
Therefore, we should love everyone.
I am glad that the Holy Spirit bears the fruit of love within me. I cannot do it myself, but when I yield to the Spirit rather than self, that is when I can love all people.
Love is powerful because it “covers a multitude of sins.” That is what makes it possible for us to love our enemies. That is how we can love sinners blinded by Satan. That is how we can love Christians who fall into sin.
When I see a Christian in sin, I get angry. How can they tarnish the name of God? How can they love God and do that? However, I cannot become self-righteous and think that I would never do the same thing or worse. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that I can love and forgive.
Friend, join me as I give God glory for producing the super fruit of love within our hearts. Now let’s go love on someone today!
Take Out:
By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35 NKJV
Read Luke 10:25-37. Is there someone that is hard for you to love? Commit to pray asking God to give you a love for them. Do something kind for that person this week. You will definitely begin to notice a difference.
Dessert:
Dear heavenly Father, fill me with Your love that I may be able to show love and kindness to others. Help me love the unlovable – my enemies and those who shame Your name. Thank You, Lord Amen.
© 2015 by Carolyn Dale Newell. All rights reserved.
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