Sunday 4th October, 2015.
“And walk in love, (esteeming and delighting in another) as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God (for you, so that it became) a sweet fragrance” (Eph 5:2 AMP).
The world is in chaos and turmoil today because for the most part, the four letter word (L-O-V-E) with a big meaning, is usually ignored when decisions are made. Everyone needs love, it is a commodity that is accepted everywhere, if it is rightly dispensed. Yet people find it easy to love themselves and hate others;in issues relating to themselves, they are lawyers defending themselves especially when they are wrong, but when it relates to others they become a judge, criticizing, condemning and judging. Clearly, the undercurrent that flows below many problems in the world is as a result of lack of love, towards people or God.
Nothing hinders the prayers of the saints than a lack of love, either towards God (as it manifests in sinful acts) or mankind. 1 Corinthians 13 underscores the importance of love in all we do. Every act of a believer, if it is not enveloped in love, is like filthy rags. Love is vital to maintaining harmony either with God or man; this is why the devil invest a lot of energy in creating misunderstandings, offenses, strife, divisions, confusions and so on. Love generates power, strength and light and exposes dark works while hatred is the hiding place for evil. We are commanded to walk in love; walking is a continual, progressive process. It is something we must do all the time. Walking involves taking steps, each step we take must be guided by love. Are your actions guided by love? Are you walking in love? Our love must first go vertical – towards God, Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Love is a command; we are commanded to love God. Below are the three dimensions in which we are to love God.
Love God with all your heart: God demands 100% of our heart, not 99.9%. Nothing must compete with him, if we truly belong to him. The heart has the capacity to love and it is the birthplace of our affections and desires. Your affection commands your devotion. It is what you love that commands your commitment. You can find out if you love God with all your heart by checking your affections and desires. What do you desire? What do you love?. If God asks you to ask for only one thing and nothing else what will be your request? Money, fame, power etc.
David said Psalms 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”
David at this phase of his life, is a picture of a man, whose affections and desires were consumed by God. No wonder David is called, a man after God’s heart. What is the one thing that you desire above every other thing?He said in Psalms 73:25 “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”The answer must be God. The affections and desires of our hearts must be continually towards God. Our actions must be borne out of our love for him and bring glory to him.
Another thing that reveals your heart is what you treasure or value? Are they things of eternal value and where are they located? If they are the things of God, they will be located above; if they are worldly or earthly, they belong to this earthly realm and they are the invisible pilot of your heart. Jesus said Matthew6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The focus, attention and affection will always be where the treasure is.
For us to love God with all our heart, we must protect our hearts. Distraction is the enemy of focus; many things will attempt to take root in our heart, if we are distracted. Proverbs 4:23(NIV) Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
We can protect our hearts by constantly meditating on God’s word and studying it. Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”.
Let us pray
Pray that the desire for God will consume every other desire in your heart.
Ask for the enablement to protect your heart from all distractions and temptations.
Pray that you will love God with all your heart.
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