My colleague and I were discussing the connection between salvation and loving the fellow believers.
This is a common theme in John’s epistles especially the first one.
The question arose, “How can we claim to know God and yet hate a fellow believer?”
They just don’t go together.
I have a quote board in my office and the Lord drew me to a Hannah Hurnard quote that I have posted:
“Love is not a feeling. It is an overmastering passion to help, bless, deliver, comfort, strengthen and give joy to others just as the Lord Jesus always did.”
Her point is that love acts.
It demonstrates itself by acting in the best interests of the other person.
The best definition of love I have come across is from Nancy Missler’s book The Way of Agape.
Agape is when I choose to set aside my self-interests to serve the best interests of another no matter what it costs me and no matter how they treat me in return.
This is the love that God loves us with all the time.
The real test comes when we give love but get rejection in return.
That hurts.
So, what are we going to do with that hurt?
More than likely, our imposter flesh patterns will kick in.
For me, I’ll get quiet and withdrawal and get passive aggressive in my interactions… if I interact at all.
I will also face the struggle of detaching emotionally…. If I don’t care about them, then they can’t hurt me again.
This is a lie…the reality is that I am wired to care.
The solution is to take our hurt to the Lord and talk it out.
We need to discuss what went down, how it makes us feel, give over the hurt and receive His healing.
Forgiving the offender of their offense is the path to healing.
But what if they hurt me again?
They will but here’s the good news, God will be there to heal those wounds too.
Now, I am not saying that bad behavior doesn’t need to be confronted.
We need to ask the Lord if confrontation is needed.
If He says yes, we need to do so after we have forgiven and been cleansed.
Only then, will we be in the right head space to confront and correct.
Beloved, ask the Lord if there is anyone you need to forgive.
Walk through the process with the Lord.
Ask Him to love that person through you or partner with you in loving them.
We are known, recognized, by our love for one another.
It is a supernatural love that comes from Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
Let’s purpose to pass it on to each other.
Blessings!
Robyn Henning