As we look around at world events we quickly realize, the world is becoming an increasingly dark and hard place in which to live.

Our hearts need to remain warm, pliable and increasing in its passion if we are going to impact the world around us. This will require us to guard our hearts from growing cold so that our love towards God, and others, does not lessen in its intensity.

So how are we to love?

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not 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, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NASB)

It is a familiar passage, oft quoted at weddings. The Passion Translation sheds this further insight:

“Paul is saying that love covers all things, like a roof covers the house. Love does not focus on what is wrong but will bear with the shortcomings of others. And like a roof protects and shields, you could say that love springs no leak. It is a safe place that offers shelter, not exposure. It never loses faith.”

This is thought provoking for sure. Love protects. Love is a safe place, a shelter.

In a time when the world is divided, diverse opinions swirl about us, contention fills the air, and argumentativeness abounds, how are we to love?

I returned to The Passion Translation:

“Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous. Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another.”
(Romans 12:9-10, TPT)

Paul answers the question powerfully:

• Love is the inner movement of our hearts. When our hearts are moved to action, the prompting they receive stems from, and is motivated by, love.
• Love does not wear a mask. True love is free from all pretense. Love will not disguise itself to gain something from another person. There is no personal agenda when loving from a pure heart. Love is not an act.
• Love hates evil and holds onto the good. True love will not tolerate mean and hurtful behavior. True love will hold tightly, like glue, to acting and reacting in a just and merciful manner.
• Love is genuine. Do we love one another, deeply, as if we were a family? Love displays a mutual concern and a commitment to others.
• Love honors others. Love will not seek to outdo or outshine others. Love thinks of others as better than oneself, and seeks the best interest of others.

“God doesn’t want us to just study Him like He’s an academic project. He wants us to become love.”

(from Everybody Always by Bob Goff)

Love must rule in all our relationships in our homes, churches, and communities. Jesus Himself put it this way:

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35, NASB)

The Scripture brought to mind words from a loved song:

“We can pierce the darkness as He shines through us…
We will come reaching, with a song of healing…
And they will know us by our love!”

(By Our Love, by Christy Nockels)

Let’s make the love of Jesus recognizable –
may it be a reaching and healing love.

What makes something good for one person and bad for another? How do we know which path to take when we’re at a fork in the road? In her post, A Lesson in Discernment (<– link), Nylse Esahc brings her insights on discernment.

Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.

Photo by Will O on Unsplash
Today I am joining … Recharge Wednesday .