Quote from Forum Archives on August 15, 2001, 8:32 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Today's message comes from Neil Anderson. Information about
online resources from Neil and also from the suppliers of the
message are noted in the closing credits.

Most of us understand that loving one another is important. But
how well do we understand what this love really is? Neil
Anderson attempts to separate the world's idea of love, which is
not very clear or consistent, to the character and clarity of
God's love. Once we clearly understand what God's love is all
about, it becomes equally clear why Jesus Christ came and gave
Himself, even though many rejected Him. His model of love
clearly demonstrated a high character, a pure heart, obedience to
His Father, true humility, in short, every attribute of what we
call "agape love". Read this message for a reminder of what
God's love is all about. It never hurts to repeat and remind
ourselves of things that are really important, does it?

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Reply-to: Neil Anderson <neilanderson@lists.crosswalk.com>
Subject: Neil Anderson Devotional for Wednesday, August 15, 2001

N E I L A N D E R S O N D A I L Y D E V O T I O N A L
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

August 15

LOVING OTHERS

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For
even sinners love those who love them (Luke 6:32).

For many people, loving others is a nebulous concept.
Fortunately, agape love is very clearly defined in the
Scriptures. When love is used as a noun in Scripture, it is
referring to character. For example: "God is love" (1 John 4:8);
"Love is patient, love is kind," etc. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Love is the highest of character attainments: "The goal of our
instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a
sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5). Love is the fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22), the means by which a true disciple of Christ is
identified (John 13:35). The attention given to love in passages
such as 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4 reveals its importance to
God in our interpersonal relationships, of which the family is
primary.

Agape love is not dependent on the person being loved, but on the
lover. You may like someone because of who he is; but you love
him because of who you are. God loves us not because we are
lovable, but because God is love. If it were any other way, God's
love would be conditional. If you performed better, would God
love you more? Of course not. God's love for us is not based on
our performance, but on His character.

Love is also used as a verb in Scripture. "For God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Used this
way, love is grace in action. It is giving unconditionally to
meet the needs of another.

If you say you don't love someone, you have said more about
yourself than about that person. Specifically, you're saying that
you haven't attained the maturity to love him unconditionally
(Luke 6:32). The grace of God enables you to love others in a way
that people without Christ cannot. God doesn't command you to
like your family, your neighbors and your coworkers because you
can't order your emotions to respond. But He does instruct you to
love them. You can always choose to do the loving thing and trust
that your feelings will follow in time.

Thank You, Father, for bestowing on me the greatest love of all
by sending Jesus. Teach me to love others as You have loved me.

-----------
This daily devotional is published and distributed by
Crosswalk.com. It is written by Neil Anderson at
< www.ficm.org >.

You can purchase "Daily in Christ" and other titles by
Neil Anderson at Parable.com:
< link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.ASP?A3.14.1997.1.293748 >

Need a new Bible? You'll find many at Parable.com:
< link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.ASP?A3.14.1997.2.293748 >

Additional devotionals are available from Crosswalk.com:
< devotionals.crosswalk.com >.

For Copyright Terms go to www.crosswalk.com/info/copyright

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=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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