Interview with God Part 3

Four weeks ago, I began the “Interview with God" series to share what I strongly believe God has been teaching me. The original investigation and purpose for this interview was and still is to figure out how to become a fruitful Christian. In Part 2, I share the importance of understanding the Word and the obedience that follows understanding. Today, part 3 is all about love.

If you’re anything like me, you’d think what’s so important about love anyways? Especially for Christians. I mean, there are many definitions of love floating out there, and many people are on a never-quenching search to find it. Why bother?

God reminded me of what He calls the greatest commandments - love God and love people (Matthew 22:37).

I thought these were so cliche and redundant. I thought it was a concept I fully understood and grasped. However, after asking God to open my perspective, and reflecting on my actions toward people, I now see them as imperative principles that require our attention and committed intentionality.

You cannot be fruitful without love. We cannot grow as Christians and not have love. No matter how much Bible knowledge we have, no matter the hours we serve, and no matter the gifts and talents we developed, we WILL NOT grow if we do not humble ourselves and grasp this concept. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 emphasizes love's importance by declaring without it, there is no value, and nothing is gained.

Now, what is love? What type of love has God called us to give? It’s insane. I’ll let you read for yourself.

Me: Anything else? I feel that’s a little cliche. Can you breathe some new perspective? Open my eyes?

God: Galatians 5:13-16 'You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. '

Galatians 5:22-25 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. '

Me: Love - What are the attributes? Is trust one of them?

God: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Me: Love seems to be the underlying message, maybe not so “underlying.” So you want us to wait on you, be kind to you, not envy you, not boast to you, and not be proud or prideful. You don’t want us to dishonor you, be self-seeking, easily angered, or keep a record of wrongs. You want us to be humble, polite, looking to the interests of others, forgiving, trusting, protecting, hoping, and persevering in you?

God: 1 John 4:19-21 'We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. '

Me: I need practical steps to obey Jesus… I don’t think love is possible. 99.9% of people fail at it but you say it never fails. How can I experience your love?

I told you it was insane. The type of love God has and is calling his disciples to is almost unreal!

I don’t know about you, but it’s utterly impossible for me to do what He commands without His strength and help.

Examine your heart today. Ask yourself, do you really love God at the capacity He commands? Do you really meet the measure of loving your neighbors at the capacity he’s calling you to? Do you really love yourself the way He adores you?

I pray that Jesus speaks to your heart.

Lord, I lift each and every reader who comes across this blog post. I pray that they experience your love right now, where they’re at. Please oh Lord, Show us how to love you fully and give us strength to love our neighbors. Especially our enemies.

For those who don’t know how to love themselves, I pray they know that they are treasured, and adored by you. There’s nothing that can separate us from your love when we have been redeemed by your love. Let us have grace in ourselves.

Show us where we need to place boundaries in our lives. Show us the areas where you will supply your strength and grace and the areas where you will not. We want to be in your will, oh Lord.

Help us to understand the healthy and holy love you call us to. Enlarge the capacity of our hearts. In your mighty and precious name Jesus, Amen.

Until the next and final post of the series: Interview With God Part 4.