Love - Rhema

LYNETTE HAGIN
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs
in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be Like
a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
- Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)
The Bible focuses a lot on the principle of love. In scripture
after scripture we are reminded that we need to practice love in all areas of our lives. Often
in reference to practicing love, I think of Matthew 5:44: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use
you, and persecute you.” I realize that one of the challenges I have is to practice love toward my
enemies, so I read this verse quite often.
Then my thoughts go to what we call the Love Chapter—First Corinthians 13—and I am
reminded to read verses 4 through 7 (Amplified): “Love endures long and is patient and kind;
love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself
haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love
in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the
evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth
prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless
under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].”
Those verses come to mind often when I think about love. However, this month the Lord brought to my remembrance a
scripture concerning love that we often overlook or ignore. Jesus was teaching the multitude and one of the Pharisees, an expert
in religious law, asked Him a question, trying to trap Him: “ ‘Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?’
Jesus replied, ‘ “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This is the first and greatest
commandment’ ” (Matt. 22:36–38 NLT).
In His teachings Jesus emphasized that the most important thing in our lives should be to love the Lord with our entire
being—our heart, soul, and mind. The Lord has been continually reminding me recently that in the perilous days we live in, it is
important for each one of us to stir up the desire to love Him in a greater measure.
From the mid-’60s into the early ’80s, there was a wave of desire in the Charismatic Renewal to know the Lord, love the Lord,
and receive a knowledge of His Word. People would come to church night after night and week after week to receive insight from
the Word of God. They developed a love for God and His things as never before. I was excited about this, because I knew the
importance of placing God first and loving Him with your entire being.
However, around the mid-’80s that love and hunger for the things of God began to deteriorate. I have seen the spiritual
climate gradually change to the extent that even dedicated Christians want a once-a-week experience with God. They get restless
if the church service lasts more than an hour-and-a-half, and some will even leave after
that time.
This is very alarming to me, because I am concerned that what happened to
the church at Ephesus is happening today. In Revelation 2:2–5 (NLT) we read, “ ‘I
know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I
know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they
are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered
for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each
other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works
you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place
among the churches.’ ”
When you love someone, you want to be around that person continuously.
In a marriage, the partners’ love for each other should increase over the years.
So should it be with us and the Lord. Our love for Him should increase the
longer we are saved. I encourage you to stir up that love for Jesus again that you
experienced when you first accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. As you do,
you’ll find that it will be well with you and life will have new meaning.
22 THE WORD OF FAITH // Feb/Mar ‘11