1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
In several verses like the one above, we are admonished to love one another and to show love to our neighbors. Jesus Christ used a parable to explain the importance of helping people, even a stranger (Lk 10:29-37). Our God is Love personified (1Jn 4:16). We have no option or other nature but to demonstrate love.

Why do I despise that brother or sister?
Why have I chosen not to forgive?
Why am I so unwilling to let go?
Why did I decide not to help?
Why did I turn a blind eye to that bad situation?
Why did I turn a deaf ear to that plea?
Why do I always feel hatred?
How many times have you asked yourself these questions or even harsher ones? It is a push in you asking for a demonstration of love.

Whenever we are faced with the question of demonstrating love, we look outside or inside or around.


Rom 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.
The love of God has already been shed abroad in our hearts. Christians do not need a baptism of love or impartation of love from above or from another person. The love of God is already there in your heart. You just need to find expression to the inborn nature within you. God is Love and He already dwells in you (1Jn 4:16). Nobody can know love without knowing God and nobody can know God without love. That is why you cannot but love your brother (1Jn 4:20).

This same love is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). That is why this love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). You find expression to this love by renewing your mind with the Word of God (Rom 12:2).

Looking on the inside of you for this Love or looking on the outside or around you for the demonstration of this Love is not the solution. Rom 5:6 makes us to understand that the way or reason love is shed in our hearts is because while we were yet sinners, Christ in due season dies for us. Therefore, as we meditate on the Love of God demonstrated through Christ who died for our sin (past, present and future – once for all, Heb 10:10), we find it easy to forgive, let go, help others and demonstrate love because we see how Christ did these and more for us freely.

As we focus on Christ’s love, the Author and Finisher of our Faith (Heb 12:2), we realize we are transformed to love like Him – who forgave a woman caught in the act of adultery without lifting a stone against her (Jn 8:3-11) and who went about doing good (Act 10:38). As we keep on looking unto Christ, all the things that pertain to life and godliness, which has been freely given to us (2Pet 1:3), would begin to manifest effortlessly.


T-Ralph

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