Let all that you do be done in love. Sounds so easy, doesn’t it? But we know it’s often very hard.
In fact, Paul's words in verse 9 nail it on the head, don't they:
...there are many adversaries...
That's right! Enemies, opposition, struggles! All against loving...why?
Read MoreI was reading in my devotions the other day...actually looking for something else...when the Holy Spirit arrested me right here:
open door
...a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries... Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men [spiritual adults], be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:9, 13-14 ESV
Let all that you do be done in love. Sounds so easy, but NOT!
In fact, Paul's words in verse 9 kinda nail it on the head, don't they:
...there are many adversaries...
That's right! Enemies, opposition, struggles! All against loving...why?
love
And the love Paul is talking about is GOD'S LOVE...not our touchy-feely kind that comes and goes. It 's unconditional, sacrificial, others-oriented. And that's not only hard, but impossible apart from God Himself.
So what are the adversaries that we typically struggle with?
Try these for a starter:
fear...it's risky to love! We may be rejected!
comparison...with its companions: jealousy, competition, pride (if we think we're better) or self-rejection (if we feel inferior)
unforgiveness...it eats away at our souls and begins to leak out on all our other relationships (See Matthew 18:21-35, especially verse 34)
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, we are totally loved and accepted by our Father God. So we can pass this God-Love on to others. We can love with HIS love.
How? By letting the Living, Loving, Indwelling Christ love through us today.
But, you might say, that's all well and good, but I am not particularly feeling loved myself today. Maybe the place to start is by letting yourself be loved by the Father. He's always loving you, searching you out, whether you feel it or not! Bask in the Father's love...and then don't hold back! Let it flow out...or as I like to say, let it rip!
Because...
love, heart, candles
Love Will Find A Way Steve Green
Love will find a wayTo follow where you runLove will cover youAnd shield you from the sunThis will all be doneJust to heal you, to heal youLove will lift the veilYou try to hide behindLove will kiss your tearsAnd turn them into wineThis will all be doneTo reveal you, reveal you
REFRAINLove will take your shameLove will lift your headLove will take the blowThat was meant for you instead
Love will take your shameLove will lift your headLove will take the blowThat was meant for you instead
Love will never leaveNo matter what you sayLove will look beyondYour brokenness todayThis will all be doneJust to name you,This will all be doneTo reclaim you, reclaim you
REFRAIN
Love will find a wayTo follow when you run
Janet Renner Loyd has been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ most of her life. Her formal education includes a degree in education from the University of Arizona and also a degree in Bible & Theology from Moody Bible Institute. For more than thirty years, she has been involved in teaching and leading women’s Bible studies, retreats, and meetings…most notably Precept upon Precept and various studies that she has personally developed. Professionally, Jan recently retired from teaching language and writing to GED and adult ESOL students.
About her life, Jan says, “The most important thing about me is my relationship with my Father God through my Lord Jesus Christ. I am forever grateful to Him for His love, mercy, and grace to me and my family and friends...and the world.”
Jan has been happily married to John Loyd for more than forty years. They have two adult, married children and five lively young grandsons.
