Why You May Not Be Walking In Love

In over 25 years of ministry, one thing stands out too often. Church folks are not really walking in love.  Some of them practice a strict form of legalism.  Another bunch seems to always be angry and offended.  A third group quietly gossips their days away, far away from the love commandment that Jesus delivered to us.  I have found that two things are at the root of this loveless lifestyle. Correct your thinking in these areas and you are off to a good start.

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1. Some never really know a love-walk is REQUIRED

I know it sounds crazy with all the teaching in the church on love and loving each other, but too many never really get it that love is the number one goal.  We are busy trying to live out God’s ten commandments (do not lie, steal, covet, kill) and fail to realize that we will not be judged by this measuring stick.  We’ve had our eyes on the wrong law. Jesus said in John 13:34-35

 ³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

And In Romans 13:8-10

⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,”and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

If you love someone you will not lie, steal, or gossip about them.  Love fulfills everything that the 10 commandments could not do in curbing sin.  You must wake up each day and say “my goal today is to walk in the law of love“.  Do it on purpose.  This is your target. This is the law by which you will be judged.  It’s that important.

2. God has given us everything we need to walk in His kind of Love

The bible says in Romans 5:5

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

God is not an unjust God.  He would never ask us to do something we could not do. God has given us His love by the Holy Ghost which lives within each of us.  We have the “stuff” needed to walk out this love-walk.  Thank God for the Holy Ghost which supplies us with the love of God.  We can love like God loves. No more excuses.

Say this, “The bible says that love is the new commandment.  I walk in this love commandment by the love of God which is now in my heart.  I have everything I need to walk in the God kind of love. I love like God loves.”

Know it is required.  Know you will have to answer on how you walked out your one and only commandment. Know that God has given you everything you need to fulfill His commandment.  Acknowledge it and let love dominate your life.