Walking in love should be the highest priority in the life of every believer, but it’s often overlooked…
But it’s not overlooked in the New Testament. Jesus emphasized the love of God when He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself,” (Matt. 22:37-39). John is called the Apostle of love and devoted much of his writings to this subject. Paul described Agape love in 1 Corinthians 13. Peter emphasized walking in love even when being persecuted and treated unjustly.
Love is a New Testament theme that should be pursued by every believer.
1 Corinthians 14:1 in the Amplified Bible tells us to “EAGERLY PURSUE and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest].”
Some think living a lifestyle of love is a sign of weakness, but it’s actually a sign of strength. Love never fails.
Developing your love walk gives you the advantage in this hate-filled, stressed-out world. Love will diffuse difficult situations. Imitating God in His love walk makes you immune to the effects of attacks from other people. You can truly become part of the answer today, instead of part of the problem.
Boldness and perfect assurance are some of the benefits that result from the love of God being perfected in you (1 John 4:17-18). Walking in love enables you to live in the eye of the storm—with peace in the midst of chaos. The God kind of love working through you empowers you to help those in trouble and strengthen the weak.
The love of God makes you a master of situations instead of a victim.
Love makes everything else in life worthwhile. In fact, if you’re not walking in love, the Scriptures tell us nothing else you do has any value:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. —1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Paul mentions some important things and lists some benevolent works that do a lot of good. He even includes giving your body as a sacrifice, but without love, all these great works profit nothing.
It‘s easy to get focused on doing something great for God when our attention should be on walking in love. We’re busy trying to get our faith to work so we can enjoy the benefits of our redemption, but faith works by love (Gal. 5:6).
Getting out of love hinders prayer. If you need to adjust some things in your love walk, praying harder or longer or more sincerely won’t get the job done. Nothing will take the place of love.
If you’re in bitterness or unforgiveness and your prayers are being hindered, prayer from every evangelist in the world won’t do any good until you get it right (Mk. 11:25). It’s the little foxes that spoil the vine. How you treat others makes a difference and affects your relationship with God. If you have a problem with someone, get it right or it could hinder you spiritually (Matt. 5:23-24).
Notice how a step out of love is a step into darkness.
“But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” —1 John 2:11
We are to follow God’s example of forgiving and forgetting when others do us wrong. When we realize God is willing to forgive everyone of everything, it doesn’t seem like such a sacrifice for us to forgive and forget what others have done to us.
“Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble). Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God—that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].” —1 Peter 3:8-9 (AMPC)
Love’s way is the way to live a victorious life. No matter what’s been done to you, you can live in peace and joy when you let love have its way.
If you feel the need for improvement in your love walk, there is help in the Word of God. Remember, if you’re a Christian, you have God’s love in you. Any Christian can develop the fruit of love in their life. It will be helpful to read the following verses every day, using them to describe yourself (“I suffer long and I’m kind, I do not envy….”):
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” —1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Read these verses over and over again, and use them to describe yourself. Let these words register in your mind and heart, and you’ll notice changes in your life in no time!
Dear Greg Fritz Ministry
Thank you for your blog which I always find enlightening and resonates with my heart and soul. I especially love this article as one of my all time scripture and favorite song is “beloveth let us love one another, for love is of God and anyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God, he that loveth not (clap, clap, clap) knoweth not God, for God is love, God is love, beloveth, beloveth let us love one another 1John4 7 and 8🎶🎼🎵”
Indeed love never fails. The love walk appears marginalized by even us believers. When I refuse the approval of man by speaking and standing for truth, an elephant appears in the room and when I address the elephant, I perceive resistance… this led me to start hiding my love walk but I turned back when I realized this is exactly what the devil would have me do, meanwhile Jesus says a light is placed on a lampstand so it would light up the room, salt of the earth adds flavor. So I ask that God show me how to, when to, and what to speak about in truth and in love so that the hearer hears and receives and glorifies God. In Christ | Joy