“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.”
II John 1:6 (NIV)
To become skilled with anything takes practice. Is it convenient or enjoyable? Probably not. Does it stretch you beyond your comfort level? Absolutely. To become a good musician, sports player, artist, engineer, public speaker, accountant, plumber, or doctor it takes training and MUCH practice!
Walking in love, through the power of the Holy Spirit transforming our thoughts and attitudes, requires practice. It doesn’t just happen. It doesn’t suddenly become a virtue simply because we desire it. It requires a lot of prayer, self-discipline, determination and hard work.
What is love? II John 1:6 gives us the answer. “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His [God’s] commands.” If we are to walk in obedience to His commands we first must know them. Where do we go to find this knowledge? God’s Word – the Bible. Scripture reveals the character of God, and is the first place we should start as we endeavor to walk in love. God is love (I John 4:7-21) and if we are one of His children we should imitate Him (I John 4:7-21; Philippians 2:3-8; I Peter 2:21; John 13:12-15).
As we walk this spiritual journey, allowing God’s Holy Spirit to guide us, it affects the way we live our lives. It transfers into actions. It influences the words we use as we speak to each other (words that build up rather than tear down); it helps us turn on the “filter” before we speak; it opens our eyes to needs around us rather than simply being inward focused.
How do we ensure success along this journey toward walking in love? Implant God’s Word in our heart! Psalm 119:11 reminds us, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Don’t just plant it……water it, fertilize it and allow it to transform our thoughts, attitudes and actions.
Implant God’s Word in our heart! Psalm 119:11 reminds us, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Don’t just plant it……water it, fertilize it and allow it to transform our thoughts, attitudes and actions.
Practice it! Walk in Love and in obedience to His command.
Keith