Love!

Love!

Galatians 5:14 AMPC

[14] For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.]

Leviticus 19:18 AMPC

[18] You shall not take revenge or bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. [Matt. 5:43-46; Rom. 12:17, 19]

As we have seen over the past few days, there is nothing God gives that the devil will not try to imitate or corrupt. It is either he sells the adultrated version of God's original provision, or he offers you a completely different version that looks nothing like the original, but is not easily recognised because there is no spirit of discernment in the person receiving it. The devil also knows that God's will is that the human race relates with one another the right way, which is in line with the model of love that He laid down. He created man in His own image and after His likeness, and showered His love on man. God's model has become our own model too, and the standard that we have a mandate to uphold and follow. It is very important that I know this God too, and what He demands from me. It is by knowing that I can be motivated to follow and align with His standards. 

The world, of course, has its own model of love too, and we see its manifestations and expressions in the movies, books and stories that are made or told by the people who are subject to the standards of the world. As we see from the verses above, God's standard has not changed even with the passing of time or the changing of generations. Whether it is the old or new testament, we find a verse of the Bible that lays out the standard of God as it relates to love. If I am to love in line with God's standard, I must have the presence and power of God in me to enable me walk in line with that standard. I cannot walk contrary to the nature and power that is at work in me. As we have said so many times, a person cannot give what s/he does not have. When the squeeze comes, as it definitely will do at some point in time in our lives, what comes out will be in line with my control centre. Who is in charge in there? 

The model of love that God speaks about here has no room for revenge or grudges. It does not leave room for hatred or bitterness against anyone. It makes it clear that the same way you will treat yourself must be the same way you will treat other people. Again, it must be emphasized that it is only a person who is submitted to God who has the right platform to be able to love the right way. If a person has not come to see himself the same way God sees him, it is hard for such a person to show God's version of love. Jesus, at some point before He went to the cross, even laid down His own example as the standard of love. We have the right example to follow, and we have the required supply to help us align with this requirement. God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. If He commands it, He will definitely back up and reward obedience. Do you know this God? Would you depend on Him for whatever the need is? God's time of favour is here.