Let True Love Dwell In The Heart

June 22, 2021

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

~Ephesians 4:31‭-‬32~

All too often we find ourselves becoming who we never wanted to become. We find ourselves judging when it is not our place to judge. We slip up and utter cruel words as bitterness seeps into our souls. We let anger rise up and take over as a result of unforgiveness we have yet to let go of. We are coming to a point in these times where the Lord is pressing His Church to unite. The devil is attempting to reverse that blessing.

"He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."

(I John 3:8)

Christ is warning us to fight for what He came to destroy. It is our choice to make whether we want to allow a place for the enemy to use us or if we wish to conquer him and declare the works of the Lord with love. There is a reason we are warned several times in scriptures not to speak ill of another or allow anger to being forth sin; "Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath." (Ephesians 4:26)

Paul is blunt about brotherly love and how to discern between godly love or evil discourse. He reminds us all to be on guard of allowing ourselves to fall into these traps. Peter himself fell into this when he denied Christ, however he would turn to represent Jesus again. Judas also fell into a snare of the devil, yet he did not come back around. It can work either way and Paul's warning is for all of us. The moment we allow bitter words, useless rage, unforgiveness or lying words to come out from our mouths we allow that defilement to take place within us; "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

(Matthew 15:11)

For when we allow these things to overcome us we give a place to the devil to build on it. Let us pray to the Lord that what we say each day will only edify and not tear down. For God sees it all and He alone is the one being rejected when we do these things to another; "Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4)

We are nearing some interesting times my friends and evil prowls around looking to divide, to cause frustration, to tempt and to cheat their ways into our lives. Are we allowing ourselves to be used by God to speak love and blessings or are we allowing ourselves to be used by satan to speak evil? For Paul tells us to put this away from us all together.

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (I Corinthians 13:11)

Certainly we all dealt with enough back stabbing, hateful words, wrath, anger and judgement growing up as children, I know I have. It is time to put away those childiah things and take on Christ's way of treating people. For if we do not, we are not yet perfected in His love; "No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us." (I John 4:12)

We understand what true love is, who He is and how it is given to us. We know what love is not as these were explained to us in Paul's letters as well; "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (I Corinthians 13:4‭-‬7)

I pray that we are all constantly checking ourselves with God making sure that what we are doing and what we are saying is pleasing to Him and edifying to our family in Christ. If for some reason it is not, let us repent to the Lord and ask for forgiveness so we may learn to lean into His love more and shackle it to our heart. It is time to put away foolishness and follow Jesus. The world is changing and He needs His Family to love one another just as He loves us and forgave us. It is time we truely follow His lead, not only in word but also in deed.

Prayer:

Gracious Father God, thank you for loving me so deeply. Thank you for forgiving me with the Blood of Your Son. I pray if there is any words I have idly spoken, anger I have allowed to take its place or any bitterness that hides in my heart that You will forgive me Lord and help me to see these things clearly. I declare blessings on all of my brothers and sisters and I cancel all attempts of division, confusion and frustration alongst my brethren in Jesus Name. I praise You God for Your mercy that is new each day. I know it is my duty to follow Your image and love those just as You love me. Let the people I pass see You, not me. Let their ears hear You, not me. Let them believe in You, not in me. I trust You are in control even as I dont see the outcome, its all for Your glory! In the Name of my incredible Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. Amen.