You Need To Love

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"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)


One of the biggest obstacles for Christians is the lack of love. As you can see above, love is everything. You could have every spiritual gift God could give, but if you don't have love in your heart, you're like a "noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." Every sin you commit stems from a lack of love in your heart.


If you lust after someone, it indicates a lack of love for that person; you have treated that person as an object for your pleasure. If you steal, it comes from a lack of love; you wouldn't steal from someone you truly love. If you lie, it stems from a lack of love; you wouldn't lie to someone you love, even if the truth might hurt that person.


Jesus says the two greatest commandments are "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." Then He says, "The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37 & 39)


In both of these Scriptures, there is an emphasis on love. Why do you think love is included in these commandments, and why are they considered the most important? It's because out of love, we do good for others; out of love for God, we turn away from our sins and repent.


Jesus died for us out of love. When Judas betrayed Jesus, it was due to a lack of love in his heart. When we sin against God and our fellow man, it is from a lack of love in our hearts. You may love God and your friends and family, but you will still sin against them because you love the sin more. So you need to go to God and ask him to grow your love.


I want you all to understand this because, as a church, the world has given us a reputation for hating and judging others as if we were the Pharisees. When you preach the gospel to people of the world, it has to come from a place of love, not judgment. That doesn't mean be tolerant of sin, but it means being gentle with your message and loving that person.


The word says “Love is patient, love is kind and is no jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’’’ (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)


Before you decide to evangelize, you need to check your heart and go to God to ensure you come from a place of love.



Brothers and sisters in Christ, I ask that you reach out to others only in love, and if you lack love ask God to put more love in your heart for others. This may mean enduring trials but "Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”


Amen.



P.S. Don't forget to watch my newest podcast episode.

https://youtu.be/ivFkkQ4-ymQ

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