Earnestly Love
1 Peter 4:8 ESV says, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
It is hard to overstate the importance and power of living in love. As much as we talk about love in the church, it might be easy to forget that maintaining a culture of love is hard work.
Offense can creep in and cause us to justify withholding love. Pride, frustration, differences, and any other issues can cause us to set love to the side.
We can make all the excuses we want about external things, but the commitment to love is an inward resolve. If our love is only available when things are ideal, it is conditional love. Love actually grows deeper through conflict, tension, and challenges.
This is what Jesus called us to in John 15. He said in John 15:9 ESV, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
This is as much an exciting invitation as it is a tough challenge. We can enjoy the presence of God, but the actual test of whether we are abiding in God’s love is if we love one another.
This is the wisdom of abiding. It is accessed in secret and expressed in public. We come to the Lord daily in humility, asking him to help us, and as we receive his kingdom truth, we express it to the world around us. In this, others can see that we live in a freedom and reality beyond our strength.
This begins first in the church. My challenge is to ask God to show you where you can be showing love to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Understand that this love is more than cordiality. It is the very thing that keeps the church in holiness. It covers over sins, bringing conviction and clarity for the future. A community that commits to love will soon find itself in the middle of a revival.
Are you up for the challenge? Start by asking God to show you where you are resisting his love. Seek God for wisdom in the areas you need to surrender to be ready to love others. Actively look for the chance to love your neighbor.
Love earnestly.
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Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
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