LOVE IN YOUR HOME, Pt 5, No. 501
LOVE IN YOUR HOME
Part 5
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,
and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is heaven”
(Matthew 5:44, 45).
- POURING OUT Love (Romans 5:5).
“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (ESV). Most translations of this Scripture used the words “poured out.” The Holy Spirit pours out God’s love into our hearts, so we can pour it out into the hearts of others.
- PURE Love (1 Timothy 1:5 and 1 Peter 1:22).
Agape love is love that comes from a pure heart. No ulterior motives. It is love that loves for the ultimate blessing of the other person.
- REACTIONARY Love (Matthew 5:44, 45).
What does it mean to have reactionary love? It means to react with love—to every vibe, word, or action toward us. Even those that are negative, abusive, or hurtful.
When a glass is bumped, what spills out? Whatever is in the glass! In the same way, what is inside me will immediately spill over. I pray that when I am rubbed up the wrong way, when things don’t go the way I want, and when hurtful words upset me that I would, without having to think about it, respond with love. Automatically react with love.
I don’t always do this, but this is what I want to do because God’s love is poured into me by the Holy Spirit who dwells in me.
When Paul was reviled, he reacted with blessing (1 Corinthians 4:12).
Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 3:9 that when we are insulted and reviled to “pay them back with a blessing” (NLT). The NEB translation tells us to “retaliate with a blessing.” That’s Holy Spirit reaction. That’s the way we pay back people.
Read also Proverbs 20;22; 24:29; and Romans 12:14, 17.
- SACRIFICIAL Love (1 John 3:16).
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” Jesus revealed pure agape love when He laid down His life for sinners and we who were enemies to God.
In the same way He asks us to lay down our lives for others. Read also Romans 5:8; Ephesians 5:25; and 1 John 3:14. This doesn’t come naturally to us, does it? It’s only when agape kicks in that we can walk in sacrificial love.
- SERVING Love (Galatians 5:13).
“By love serve one another.” The word serve is doueuo which means “to serve like a slave.” We don’t serve because we are a slave but because we love. Let’s get it straight. Agape love serves! If we don’t want to serve one another, we don’t have love. Much of our ministry as a wife and mother is serving. If we have no delight to serve, we show that we do not really love. Jesus revealed His love by serving and laying down his life. He wants us to follow His example (Mark 10:45; John 13:1-17; 10:28; and Philippians 2:5-8).
- TRUTHFUL Love (1 Corinthians 13:6).
True love rejoices in the truth and hates evil. True love is not wimpy. It loves unconditionally but does not tolerate evil.
- WALKING Love (Ephesians 5:2).
“Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.” To walk in love means wherever you walk. When you come into your kitchen in the morning are you walking love? Do your husband and children feel it and see it wherever you move in your home?
- UNFAILING Love (1 Corinthians 13:8).
“Love never fails.”
- UNSELFISH Love (1 Corinthians 13:5).
“Love is not self-serving (NET).”
PRAYER:
“Dear Father, my love is totally inadequate. Thank You so much for Your agape love which is poured out in my heart. Help me to always react with love to every negative situation. Please help me to be “walking love” in my home. Amen.”
AFFIRMATION:
I am building a love-filled marriage and love-filled home.
P.S. Have you been sharing these 35 love adjectives with your family? If not, start doing it now. We need to put these in action together as a family.
Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com