This is Love

"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us; that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. 1 John 3:1) Although the apostle John wrote this, James indirectly answered this in the Spirit when he wrote: "Count it all joy when ye fall in diverse temptations. (James 1:2).

These two verses indicate that, although God is love and His love is in us, temptations will continue to bombard us ? in fact, even more so than before we accepted Him as our Savior! Why? Well, the enemy of our souls, the devil, hates love and will strive to entice us away from the one main Commandment: to Love God and one another.The good news is that: "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world!" (1 John 4:4) When Jesus cried from the cross: "It is finished," He did not just mean that He was obedient to the will of God and opened the door to heaven. No, He did not leave us orphans, He sent us the Holy Spirit, who will teach us all things.

(John 14:26) Just as the branches cannot live separate from the trunk of a tree nor from the sap that nourishes it, so we (the branches) have a nourishing life line (the Holy Spirit) to the solidly rooted trunk (Jesus). That is why Jesus said that "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15).The definition of love does not imply that we love God, but that He loved us. Yes, even when you were steeped in sin, He loved you enough to send Jesus to take the blame for you! If God then, who totally abhors sin, loves you as much as the "bum" on the street and the pedophile abusing your child, then how could you withhold His love from anyone? If His Love has set you free, then it can and will set anyone free from the devil's shackles. God is not a respecter of persons and sin is sin to Him.

He does not see murder any differently from pride. Just as He hates sin, you are to hate the sin/s that control others. But, just as He loves you and your love of Him is growing day by day, so you are to look past the sin and extend His love to the person burdened by the weight of the sin.It is only when you discover the enormity of His love that you can start understanding the power of forgiveness.

The love extended to the person who has wronged you gives that person the opportunity to reach out to God's love and start afresh ? just as if he had never sinned. The Bible calls that "justification." That's what Jesus extended to you on the cross and that's why there is now no longer any condemnation to you, who are in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:1) Although there are consequences to pay for the actions of sin, God will toss the sin in the sea of forgetfulness!.As you're living in a fallen world where sin is still a mighty force, but are empowered with the Holy Spirit, then you must be bold to share His Love. "We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.

" (1 John 4: 18-21) Remember: "Love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4: 8).

Ann's passion is to share its biblical principles to effect victory in your life.Sign up for her free newsletter here: http://www.lifealteringwords.com.

By: Ann Stewart