06/19/2024 – Spirit of Love
Romans 5: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God has empowered us to victory with His love! Without love we can achieve nothing. Whatever we do without love is a waste of time and will produce no meaningful results. But with love, we are sure to achieve God’s purpose. We have read in Romans 5 that the reason we can have hope and we can be sure that we will not be disappointed in that hope is that the love of God has been poured out into our hearts! Imagine that – God has empowered you to love! You can love God because He has given you His love! He has poured out that love into your heart! Your heart is full of love from God and all you have to do is to let it flow! Let it flow to God and to your neighbor.
The Spirit of God provides power through love. Power is never manifested more strongly or effectively than through love.
God’s love overcomes the obstacles of communion. You can overcome the obstacles that keep you from fulfilling God’s command to love your neighbor. Natural love is conditional and easily hindered. It only takes an offense, a betrayal to kill natural love and to give way to strong hatred. But the love that comes from the Spirit of God is powerful to bond people to God and one another beyond any obstacle.
The love of God is powerful to overcome discord- lack of harmony producing quarreling, factiousness, or antagonism. God’s love is powerful to lead us to unity and harmony.