9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. - John 15:9-11
Loving goes way beyond feeling. It is not about lavishing others with gifts either. I love you have become so overused these days.
Love comes from God for God is love. apart from Him, we can do nothing, we we do not know how to love unless we know the Love of the Father.
Jesus says remain in My love and then He commands us "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you" This signifies that when someone says I love God but he doesn't love his neighbors, he has not really loved. The promise that comes with loving God and loving others is that your joy will be complete.
How to love?
First, love comes the purest of heart. From the heart “flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). “Out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). The heart is the factory of our soul that generates all desire, thought, emotion, and action. Out of the purest heart of God, He came and saved us, went through suffering, pain and rejections so that we can love.
" Our failure to love others is a sure sign that our heart is not relishing enough the wonder of our salvation "
So let us examine our heart first.
Second, learn to love others. Learn to accept others beyond their mishaps, imperfections and past. When we learn this act, His promise is so your joy will be complete. Happiness may not last but Joy will remain amidst troubles, storms and all issues of life.
Have a great 3 days fasting. #iamthebranch