“Love Is What It Does!!!”

A great pastor used to always quote this saying. I have been spending time thinking about this!!! One of the ways that Satan attacks us is by making us feel unloved.  Love is a powerful emotion.  When someone does not feel love the enemy can creep in and stir up feelings of rejection and loneliness.  These feelings can also lead to feelings of failure and that’s when the enemy can really stir up trouble.  He wants you to feel defeated and give up on life.  What better way to do so than to make you feel unloved? 

We are called to disciple and shepherd not only the easy ones, but also those who are hurting. Self-inflicted pain, disease, emotional, financial, or relationship loss, and a variety of other factors could all contribute to the pain. Romans 12 is a good place to start walking with the wounded, regardless of the reason.

³ For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

⁹ Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

¹⁵ Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Before I mention a great pastor would say “Love is what it does!”  Love is an action word and the Apostle Paul was showing us here just that.  As leaders in the church, we cannot look down on others and think of ourselves as better than someone who may be less fortunate.  We must be ready to offer help.  Not for show.  But, we must offer genuine help. I work in customer service and I treat all of the calls as if it is my personal issue and work hard to resolve the issue.  We should be committed to helping one another not only in the church world but those who are not Christians as well. 

The Here and Now!!!

So, our love must be a real and genuine.  LOVE TAKES ACTION!!! That is the main reason for what it does!!!  Allow your affection for others to be real rather than forced or phony. Be there with them while they experience the ups and downs of life. 

Making amends with those who have harmed them, forgiveness, reconnection with church, sobriety, or starting a discourse with God, whom they believe is to fault for the terrible thing that has happened to them. Although they are minor steps, they represent progress, and they ought to be acknowledged.  Love works with people through the storm.  It celebrates people.  Love helps build people up and does not tear people down. Love is with people in the here and now!!!

Be Considerate and Patient

Romans 12:12 ¹² Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

I Corinthians 13:4 ⁴ Charity suffereth long….

Love is self-sacrifice, placing others' needs ahead of our own, as we follow Jesus' example and humble ourselves as servants.  In doing so, we must be patient with people and their progress.  We must suppress annoyances when people are going through their process.  The enemy wants people to give up.  But, we as leaders in the church, can show them love by being patient with them and encouraging them to progress.  Charity or love hangs in there when others may have dropped off.

Give Them Your Ear

Proverbs 11:30 ³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.  We must exercise wisdom in dealing with the hurt, rejected, and troubled!!! Whatever the crisis, as leaders we can show love by giving our ear and actively hearing what the individual or family has to say.  Sometimes that is all it takes is someone just hearing them out.  Hearing them out shows that you care and are willing to lend a helping hand.

The Meek

Romans 12:10,14

¹⁰ Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

¹⁴ Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Being meek and humble is showing love through selfless acts. Love is self-sacrifice, prioritizing the needs of others over our own. This may even include those who could have mistreated you. But Jesus repeatedly demonstrated how to do so. Harmony is difficult to achieve. We don't get a pass just because it's difficult. The adversary of humility is pride.

Love Above All Else

I Peter 4:8 ⁸ And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

True love compensates for many flaws.  It covers a multitude of sins.  Because Jesus loved us he sacrificed his life for us.  We may show mercy to others because God has shown us mercy; we can exhibit love to others because God has shown us love. If you're walking with someone who is struggling, has hurt you, or those you care about, give it to God. He can take the pressure off you and accomplish what only he can. Love them well in their effort to

be free of the heartaches that have been holding them down.