A Heart That Reflects God's Love-Part 5

We need God to help us love

Clearly we need to seek God in order to have the proper discernment when extending His love to others. For instances, when you sense God's love flowing through you to others, find out their need and begin ministering to that need. By following the leading of the Holy Spirit, you can help those whom the God has prepared for His transforming touch, and you will become part of His miraculous provision. When God leads you to help someone, He will enable you to do what He leads you to do. 

   

The love we have is not ours; it is God's. When we give our whole hearts and every area of our lives to the Source of love and are filled by Him, we are able to properly express His love to others. When we act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit instead of our feelings, we are making a decision to put forth the effort to love as God loves.

   

God's love is the basis for our love, real, heartfelt gratitude for God's love will flow out of us toward others. We are able to love as God loves because of the new nature God gives us in response to our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit liberates us from sin and selfish desires, empowering us to "bear fruit to God" (see Romans 7:4).

   

True love for others is never a matter of mere externals. We are called to cultivate genuine care and compassion for others. Our love is to be real and heartfelt. Merely going through the motions will not suffice. Paul urges us, "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality" (Romans 12:10-13).