We are each called to become Love

Becoming love is a really big deal: God is Love, and you are called to get to know Him, imitate Him and become like Him. You are called to Love others and to do all things in love. His love is perfected when it flows through you to others, and it culminates when you can have boldness in the day of judgement because we have become Love in our daily life.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

“Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:12

“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17

What does becoming Love look like?

So how are you doing on becoming love,  you can see the evidence in your own thoughts and actions. The bible is wonderful mirror to judge yourself against. One of the best verses for this is 1 Cor 13. I like leveraging both the NKJV and the NIV versions to gain clarity on this expectations for love.

“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. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

How am I doing?

Let’s turn this verse into a self test: Read each line and see if you have gaps to address

1. I am patient
2. I am kind
3. I am content with what I have and do not envy
4. I do not boast or parade myself to be seen by others
5. I am not proud or puffed up
6. I am polite and always respectful of others
7. I do not seek gratification at the expense of others
8. I do not keep track of the wrongs done against me
9. I am not easily provoked into anger
10. I never wish evil on people, not even my enemies
11. I never manipulate things to control or take advantage of someone
12. I always seek and celebrate the truth
13. I always accept my circumstances without complaining
14. I believe the word of God and His promises for those who align and follow His guidance
15. I have high expectations and hope for a bright future in this life and the next
16. I endure whatever life throws at me and persevere knowing He is with me and will see me through.

Why am I not manifesting love in all of these aspects?

We are each born with a sinful nature inherrited from Adam;  We each start life with a focus on ourselves and our earthly situation rather than focusing on God and His higher purposes for us. This focus on ourselves seporates us from God and that has consequences. Rather than being directly connected to the source of all love, our love of self  seporates us from the source of love and we live our lives needing love. This vacuum of love at the deepest lovel drives our thoughts, emotions, and bahaviours in destructive ways. In order to transform and become love, we must first get rid of that self-centered love. We are called to love God with all of our heart. If we love ourselves with some part of our heart, we are not loving Him with all of it. What part of you do you still love more than you love God?  Your earthly body? Your money? Your things?  Your job title? Your reputation? Your social status?  The more you can see things from His perspective, the faster you can be transfomred into Love and see the benefits. This life is temporary and our eternal soul is just passing through on its journey. He paid the price to set your free from your sinful nature and He relesed the holy spirit to empower you to live the full life He intended when He created you.  

What do I do about these gaps?

Which gap is the most significant?  Ask Him to help you prioritize: Which area should I work on first to learn?  Which area will have the biggest impact? 

The first step is to understand the gap. What are you manifesting that is not the desired character of love?

Ask Him to help you understand what is at the root of this gap? What aspect of yourself are you still loving more than you love God?   

Confess your gap… the undesired behaviour and the root of self love that drives it.

Declare your intention to crucify the self-love and to Love God with ALL your heart.

Declare your intention to be transfomred and to manifest the full character of love towards others.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you complete the transformation of your very nature so you can become like Jesus.

Example prayer addressing a gap of patience:

Lord, you call me to become love and if I am love I will be patient man.  I continue to fall short and have missed the mark. Lord, you have taught me that I must deny myself in order to become love, that as long as I love myself first, I can not fully recieve your love and flow your love to others and truly become love. Help me understand what part of my old self I still love and hold on to. I wish to submit my entire old self to you so I can cut it off and move forward in love. I declare that I will become a patient man with your help and guidance. I claim this promise to become more like You and to bring You glory through my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. AMEN.  

Testimony:

He showed me that my impatience stemmed from a belief I held consciously or sub-consciously that my own agenda was more important than whatever His agenda was for me or those around me. Once I saw that and acknowledged it was true, I repented of putting myself above Him, and putting my agenda above whatever He is working with His. I declared my intention to be patient and respect His higher level plan unfolding even if my plans are disrupted.  I now purposfully ask for His help as I go thorugh my day, to help me build an appropriate plan of action, and to remain calm and collected as things occur knowing everything will work out in His good time. Significant improvement in demonstration of patience overnight, and over a couple of months it was habit.

Hope this helps.