Fruit of the Spirit // LOVE
GENUINE LOVE
by Blake Hudspeth
I want to impress you. I’d like for you to like me. And, if I were bolder in my honesty, would admit that I really just want to write something worthy of your Tweet. However, that would be using you to make much of me. Though the words themselves may be drenched with truth, they would be void of love. Making my voice, as Scripture so brazenly calls it, useless noise (1 Cor. 13:1-2). You have plenty of noise in your life already. In fact, neither of us want to add noise to an already cluttered world. Our only option, then, is to drop our egos and let love be genuine.
Jesus hung every command in the Bible on true love (Matt. 22:34-40). And you can’t turn anywhere in the Old Testament without bumping into the Hebrew word hesed which means, “steadfast lovingkindness.” So, we all know it’s a big deal. Yet it often escapes us when we face real-life situations. Our jealousy and ambition can quickly take the driver’s seat and steer us in the opposite direction of love.
Perhaps it’s time to slow down and ask some difficult questions.
We can’t give what we don’t have. If we don’t have the love of God poured into our hearts, we can’t expect to give it to others. So, take some time to answer these questions and let the Lord recalibrate your heart towards genuine love. Every command given in Scripture hangs on it. As you do, may you embrace the call of Jesus who said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love (Jn. 15:9).”
by Blake Hudspeth
I want to impress you. I’d like for you to like me. And, if I were bolder in my honesty, would admit that I really just want to write something worthy of your Tweet. However, that would be using you to make much of me. Though the words themselves may be drenched with truth, they would be void of love. Making my voice, as Scripture so brazenly calls it, useless noise (1 Cor. 13:1-2). You have plenty of noise in your life already. In fact, neither of us want to add noise to an already cluttered world. Our only option, then, is to drop our egos and let love be genuine.
Jesus hung every command in the Bible on true love (Matt. 22:34-40). And you can’t turn anywhere in the Old Testament without bumping into the Hebrew word hesed which means, “steadfast lovingkindness.” So, we all know it’s a big deal. Yet it often escapes us when we face real-life situations. Our jealousy and ambition can quickly take the driver’s seat and steer us in the opposite direction of love.
Perhaps it’s time to slow down and ask some difficult questions.
- Do I love God? Really love God?
- Or do I just care about what He can give me? Or protect me from?
- Is God someone I have a relationship with or is He a means to an end?
- Do I believe, with my whole heart, that God loves me? Really loves me?
- Do I love people? Or do I just care about what they can give me?
- Do I withhold love until they earn it?
- Would I want to be my friend? Or spouse? Or co-worker?
- If Jesus loved me the way that I love others, would I want to follow Him?
We can’t give what we don’t have. If we don’t have the love of God poured into our hearts, we can’t expect to give it to others. So, take some time to answer these questions and let the Lord recalibrate your heart towards genuine love. Every command given in Scripture hangs on it. As you do, may you embrace the call of Jesus who said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love (Jn. 15:9).”
Recent Articles
Archive
2024
2023
March
2022
September
2021
June
2020