“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”1 John 4:11 NIV
The love of God is rich in mercy and continues to flow despite the rejection by many. God’s love constantly knocks at the door of our lives for entrance. God’s love never becomes tired in its outreach to mankind. Its determination is God’s will to reconcile man back to Himself. Once the love of God has gained entrance, separation from His love becomes impossible.
“… neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God” Romans 8:38-39
Dwelling in our inner man, the love of God regulates our thoughts and emotions bringing them into alliance with the will of God. As we yield continuously to God’s love through faith … trusting Him beyond our own reasoning, His love blossoms and evades all the areas of our lives. Moreover, God’s love encircles us outwardly to protect us from the wiles of the enemy.
God loves us in such a way that requires us to imitate His love towards individuals who cross our paths as well as those who linger near. The passage of I Corinthians 13:4-7 provides the blueprint of the manner in which we should duplicate God’s love.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b]6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Love gives multiple second chances and resists the urge of throwing in the towel even when dealing with the most challenging personality. Love operates from a posture of forbearance, which is interwoven with gentleness oppose to annoyance. Love does not desire what belongs to another or exalts oneself with the motive to demean others. Neither does love shut others down nor adorns oneself with the cloak of superiority. Love is never selfish, easily discontented by the actions of others or filled with anger. Love delights in the truth and finds no pleasure in misbehavior. In all things, love holds up regardless of challenges, never doubts, keeps on expecting God’s goodness and withstands no matter what.
“To express our gratitude for God’s love, we must love the world at large the as well as love God back in return.”_ASA
Chronicles of ASA 