Love Is the Way

Friends and brethren, the longer I’m in Christ while living in this world, the more I truly realize that it’s really just about love, and I mean the love of God. When it’s all said and done, the only legacy any of us really want to leave is that we truly loved all whom we’ve had the opportunity to love as much as we possibly could. That is the only legacy that will carry any weight on the other side. God’s love is holy, and that oftentimes means that we have to separate ourselves from the company of those whom we want to be around, so that we don’t become a partaker of their sins, even if it is by silent consent only. The holiness of God’s love requires sometimes that we tell someone that something is wrong when we feel that it may alienate them from us. Jesus did it all the time, and never without feeling the hurt (Lk. 13:34; Psm. 69:20; Isa.53:3). According to the scriptures our salvation is dependent on whether we suffer likewise with him in these things (Rom. 8:17; II Tim. 2:12). Nevertheless God’s love is always love, and that is what it does; it loves and keeps on loving. People often present roadblocks to that love in us, but our calling is to crash those roadblocks with humility, honesty, and prayer. It’s called dying to our own will and yielding to God’s will, which is “to love thy neighbor as thyself.”

It was God’s love that sent Jesus to this world to make a way for our redemption and salvation, and it is that same love that allows the world to continue with opportunity to repent though it waxes more wicked every day. It is also that same love in those who are faithful, which alone can win anyone to Christ and continue to procure the hope of their salvation and ours. The scripture rings true loud and clear that says, “[Love] shall cover the multitude of sins" (I Pet. 4:8). And again, "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love" (Prov. 17:9). There really is nothing to win anyone to, except that love, because "God is love" (I Jn. 4:8). And except the love of God be our substance and motivation, no degree or amount of spiritual gifts or good works will be able to save us in the end (I Cor. 13:1-4; Mat. 7:22; Mat. 24:12,13). So friend, if there is someone who is presenting a challenging trial to your faith, hunker down in God and love them with a pure and single heart. That is their hope and yours. And remember to keep it holy. That IS the way of Christ. Amen.