Does The World See Us As “IN LOVE”?
“Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.”
(2 Corinthians 2: 8 NASB)
Have you ever fallen “out” of love?
In this world, we speak continually about those who fall “in” love, especially during the month of February and the season of Valentine’s Day & especially during the season of Spring when young love seems to be in the air. Nevertheless, a person has the same opportunity to fall “out” of love with another as quickly as he can fall “in” love.
God knows this about us, and quite frankly, it’s vitally important for us to realize this too.
Consider a young, brand-new believer who is filled with zeal, who witnesses to friends and family about this inner change that has occurred. Never a day passes that this new Christian does not share his testimony. Friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers know there is something different about this person. It’s apparent, he is “IN LOVE,” and even if the other person he is speaking to is not a believer or not totally understanding his new faith, still those people surrounding the new believer realize that something is different & unique. This new believer constantly speaks about this “Someone” in whom he has fallen “in love.”
“Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
(2 Corinthians 2: 8-11 NASB)
For to this end I also wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
But one whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did so for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”
Did we see what the LORD is saying?
- We can find ourselves in a place where we need to reaffirm our love for God.
- We can find ourselves in this place because of our disobedience to God.
- We can find ourselves falling “away” from Christ when we forget the forgiveness we have received from Jesus.
- We must forgive as we have been forgiven.
- We must be on guard for Satan’s schemes, because he longs to take advantage of us.
- We must be vigilant in our “in love” relationship with Jesus,” realizing that the devil desires to defeat us.
So, the question becomes: How can we fall “back in love” with someone who we once loved?
This is such a great question!
We only need to read God’s Word to find our answer.
So, let’s pause, and let’s see what GOD desires for us to understand about HIS AMAZING LOVE!
“Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,
(2 Corinthians 2: 12-17 NASB)
I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but saying goodbye to them, I went on to Macedonia.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place.
For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:
to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.”
Did we see what the LORD is saying?
We are drawn to share time with other believers, where we are edified in our faith-walk.
If we find no rest in our spirit because are not fed, then we must move on to the place where we are fed.
When we are “in” love with God, so deeply “in” love that we cannot go through any span of time outside His presence, then we will be drawn to share more & more time with other believers.
God will lead us to surround ourselves with a faith-community where we can be fed, where we can feast on the Word of God.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
As we walk through our days God has given us to live, we emit an aroma, a fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place we go.
To the unbeliever, our aroma reminds them of the end of life, where death and separation exist.
To the believer, our aroma is the fragrance of life, where God continually saves us day-by-day as we walk toward our final day and our eternity with our Savior.
- We are not peddlers of untruth; rather, we speak the Truth of Christ Jesus into the hearts of others.
- We Forgive Others Trespasses Against Us.
- We Love Others As Jesus Loves Us.
- We Testify About What Jesus Has Done For Us.
- We Do All This, not in our own power, “but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.”
“Everything In Love” by Unspoken plays into my earbuds as I finish typing, reminding me of what I need, what you need, what every person alive needs. Listen if today allows you time.
Have we fallen “out” of love with God? We like to think: NO WAY! However, the evidence may prove it so. Let us ask ourselves:
- When did we last testify about our Savior to an unbeliever? OR
- When was the last time we forgave another for the way he trampled onto us? OR
- When did we love like Jesus to another who really got under our skin?
Does The World See Us As “IN LOVE” OR
Do we just say we are “in” love with God when our actions, thoughts, and words speak the opposite?
We Must Guard This Gift That Has Been Entrusted To Us!
Christians belong to Christ. We wear His name!
Christians have the responsibility to spread the Gospel. We are covered by His blood!
Christians must speak and live in a way so that others sense the “LOVE & GRACE” of Christ in us. We belong to HIM!
“Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.”
(2 Corinthians 2: 8 NASB)