Follow The Way Of Love

How do we do this? How do we follow the way of love and why should we follow the way of love?

Well, shall we try and work these questions out by examining scripture. Our first scripture is one of the most famous verses in the Bible and one which you, dear reader, probably know by heart.

John 3:16 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Whenever the New Testament writers are referring to God’s love, they use the Greek word ‘agapē’ – pronounced ‘ag-ah-pay’ which, when expanded to its full meaning, is translated in English as ‘a love that is unconditional, benevolent, charitable and freely given’ - we don’t have to do anything to earn it or give anything in return for it, we just need to receive it.

Do you love others in this way no matter who they are or what they have done? The love the World tends to display is love that is lustful and of the flesh. It is self-seeking and self-satisfying, in fact it is self-orientated in every way! Quite the exact opposite to the selfless love of God – the love that God expects His Church to display in Christ Jesus!

As we receive God’s agapē love, so it is our duty as God’s children to show His love to others in all we do as part of our service to Him.

The Apostle Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 14:1 (AMP)

Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

Other bible versions say, ‘follow the way of love and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts’. 

Follow the way of love! Yes, indeed, but not just any kind of love, God’s love -agapé.  

So, what does God's love, that we as His Church should be emulating, look like?

This is the love that brought our salvation to us in Christ Jesus. This is the love that God expects us to have for each other and the love He expects us to have for the lost! This is the love that Jesus talks about in Matthew 22:36-40 (AMP):

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 And Jesus replied to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ 40 The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.” 

And if we do not love our Christian family in God’s way, we have a problem! Just have a look at what 1 John 4:20 (AMP) says about this:

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 

OK then, getting back to Paul’s instruction to us to ‘follow the way of love’.

Straight after this statement he tells us how to follow the way of love (agapé) and we do this by eagerly desiring the Spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

Now why would Paul exhort us to eagerly desire the Spiritual gifts? Well, this is what I think, all biblically based of course. The Spiritual gifts:

• Enable us to live life in the Spirit

• Enable us to express God’s love to us – He knows we need them to emulate Jesus, to be conformed to his image.

• Enable us to love others the way God wants us to, well not just wants but expects us to.

• Enable us to experience the fullness of God’s love for us and pass it on to others.

• Enable us to build up and edify the Church, our family in Christ Jesus.

• Enable us to receive God’s guidance for ourselves and use us to give His guidance to others.

• Enable us to lift up and glorify the name of Jesus!

• Enable us to perform miracles, signs and wonders just as Jesus did!

Now that we know this, why don’t we do it! Why don’t we get filled with the Holy Spirit and follow the way of love!

Love covers a multitude of sins. When we have the Fathers love for others, we will be able to forgive others as He forgives us.

1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) 

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 

If I don’t have the Father’s love in me, then I am pretty much a waste of skin! 

1 Cor 13:1-3 (NIV) 

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

When I have the Father’s perfect love in me, fear has no hold on my life, and I have complete freedom. The love of God for me and my faith in Jesus, sets me free from the law of sin and death!

1 John 4:18 (NIV) 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

John 8:36 (NIV) 

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 

Picture this, a Church continually being filled with the Holy Spirit both as individuals and corporately as a local body of believers. A Church that lives life in the Spirit obedient to God’s Word in every way. A Church that is filled with God’s love and follows the way of love. This is a powerful Church. This is a Church that God sees for those in Christ Jesus! This is the victorious Church. This is the Church of Jesus Christ against which nothing can withstand!

Matt 16:18-19 (NIV) 

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 

Let’s bring glory, honour and praise to our King, our Lord and Saviour – Jesus, the name above all names! C’mon Church let’s get serious and be obedient to God’s Word in everything and in every way!

Who would not want to follow the way of love? 

Who would not want to love others as the Father loves us? 

Prayer
O Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit this day and every day. Help me follow the way of love and eagerly desire the Spiritual gifts that I may be used as your servant to build up and edify your Church and bring glory to your name. Help me to love others the way you love them and the way you love me. Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise! 

Jesus the Name above all names! 

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!