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Written by Ann Friend for “afriendofJESUS2013Blog” @ http://afriendofjesus2013.com/

View original post @ http://afriendofjesus2013.com/2013/09/16/love-is-part-2/

Love is (Part 2)

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Ann “afriend4ever54” Friend
Continuing from Love is (Part 1), to truly love others, we must deal with our stuff first. (shock face) To love like Jesus requires being spirit led and spiritual fruit. Without them, love becomes conditional or non existent.

Just as change and growth is an individual thing; love is individual and begins with us. It gets back to life is a process of changes, as long as we crawl, walk or run on this earth. (smile) Love is a choice. Bottom line, God loves us in spite of our stuff. He may not like things we do but at no time does He withhold His love or stop loving us. This is our goal too. To love in spite of what someone does. Can we get a witness? (wink)

As we grow and mature, we deal with our stuff, and we’re able to love ourself, flaws and all. Psst, nobody is perfect except Jesus. So speak to that perfection lie. Loving ourself opens us up to love others. God will put people and things in our life to help us grow. (smile)

God knows what it takes to bring us to our knees. (shock face) Dealing with our stuff can be painful. We can thank God for his mercy and his grace. We can thank God for prayer. We can thank God for faith. The more we choose to let the Holy Spirit work in us, love starts to flow. (smile) Praise The Lord!

Spiritual fruit in us–love (giving), joy (gladness), peace (free from worry and fear), long suffering (patience), gentleness (kindness), goodness (generosity), faith (dependability), meekness (gentleness) and temperance (self-control) allows love to flow and draw people to us because light shines from within. (smile) It’s a beautiful thing to love others by showing kindness and compassion. God gets the glory!

Growing in love does not happen overnight. It’s a lifelong process that only God knows when we are ready and complete. He will keep pruning and removing anything keeping our fruit from growing. (nervous smile) Ain’t life grand! (wink)

To love our neighbor as we love ourself requires spiritual fruit and maturity. (shock face) Remember, God is love and there is no darkness in Him. Let’s not forget, God created us different. We may be similar but we are different. How we express or show love maybe different until we learn unconditional love. Sometimes, we harp and complaint because someone does not love us as we think we need to be loved.

Here’s the thing, only God through His Son, Jesus can meet all our needs. No human can give us what we lack within except Jesus. As we grow, whatever is missing within develops. Love is action. Love is giving and forgiving. Love keeps on loving until God changes that someones heart. Love is adapting and adjusting. Love can’t be forced. Love never fails.

For your reading pleasure, Scriptures about love:

Love – Christian – Toward God:
First commandment – Matthew 22;37, 38
With all the heart – Matthew 22:37
More important that ritual – Mark 12:31-33
Gives boldness – 1 John 4:17-19

Love – Toward Christ:
Sign of true faith – John 8:42
Manifested in obedience – John 14:15, 21, 23
Leads to service – 2 Corinthians 5:14

Love – Toward Others:
Second command – Matthew 22:37-39
Commanded by Christ – John 13:34
Described in detail – 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

The Love of Christ – Objects of:
Father – John 14:31
Believers – Galatians 2:20
Church – Ephesians 5:2, 25

Love – Described as:
Knowing – Ephesians 3:19
Personal – Galatians 2:20
Conquering – Romans:8:37
Unbreakable – Romans 8:35
Intimate – John 14:21
Imitative – 1 John 3:16
Like the Father’s – John 15:9
Sacrificial – Galatians 2:20

The Love of God – Objects of:
Christ – John 3:35
Christians – 2 Thessalonians 2:16
Mankind – Titus 3:4
Cheerful giver – 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Love of God – Described as:
Great – Ephesians 2:4
Everlasting – Jeremiah 31:3
Sacrificial – Romans 5:8

The Love of God – As Seen in Believers:
Hearts – Romans 5:5
Regeneration – Ephesians 2:4, 5
Love – 1 John 4:7-12
Faith – 1 John 4:16
Security – 2 Thessalonians 3:5
Daily life – 1 John 2:15-17
Obedience – 1 John 2:5
Without fear – 1 John 4:18-21
Glorification – 1 John 3:1, 2

God bless us by faith as we adapt and adjust while loving one another. Let thy will be done. 😀

© Ann “afriendforever54″ Friend