Our actions
"Do everything in love" (NIV), "Let all that you do be done in love. " (ESV)
The word used for love in this passage is "ἀγάπη or agapē"
It is defined as " love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love."
This is something that sometimes I think that we as Christians have forgotten. Everything we do must be done in love. When Christ spoke to the woman at the well and told her of her wrong doings, did He ridicule her and chastise her? No, He spoke of them and made her understand they were wrong, but He did so out of love. And in that she heard Him and was convicted. She didn't get all indignant.
Matthew Henry said this, " Our zeal and constancy must be consistent with charity. When the apostle would have us play the man for our faith or religion, he puts in a caution against playing the devil for it. We may defend our faith, but we must, at the same time, maintain our innocence, and not devour and destroy, and think with ourselves that the wrath of man will work the righteousness of God"
How many times have we as Christians done just that? Lost sight of what we were really trying to do in our zeal?
My prayer for everyone is that we truly seek to reflect Christ's love in all we do. Temper our own zest and fervor with the love that Christ Himself showed us. Let us not go so caught up in judgment and condemnation that we lose the one thing Christ told us to do. Love one another. Only in love can we truly be in God's will.
Dear Lord, I praise You and thank You for all of the many blessings that You have given to us. I ask that You help us to be a reflection of the love that You have for us. Help us to not forget the sacrifice that You made for us and why? It was because You love us? Let us do likewise. Be a sign of light and hope in this dark world through Your love, so that everyone we meet sees You in us. let us glorify You in all we do. In Jesus' name...Amen"
Created over 2 years ago
