Love Fill the Void

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

(2 Peter 1:5-7)

Meditation

In the days, weeks, and months after I was saved, I had to take a long hard look at who I was. I’m certainly not proud of what I was like. I have said before, at the time of my salvation, I was quite self-centered. I didn’t care what I had to do to get what I wanted. That’s not a very virtuous way to be. I didn’t realize it after my salvation, but I was going through a progression set out by God. I had to learn how to love others and not just God. With daily reading from my brand-new Study Bible, I naturally gained more insights and became more knowledgeable, which helped to build up my faith.

There is no way I could consume the words of scripture with a hungry heart and not be changed. The Word of God is definitely like a double-edged sword and it cut that cold, dead heart out of me and replaced it with one desiring the goodness that resides in righteousness. I wasn’t a good person before I was saved, and I can only be one while following Christ. All the other steps, like self-control, endurance, godliness, and brotherly affection, came in due course with continued study.

I could call myself a Christian all my life, but if I haven’t arrived at a condition of love for my fellow man, I am only fooling myself. To love my neighbor as myself was the command of Christ before he ascended into heaven. It’s not something that came to me instantly or overnight. On that cold October night, when I submitted my life to Christ, I knew I loved Jesus. That part was easy, but a love for everyone else was a little bit harder for me. At that time in my life, I didn’t even like most people, let alone, love them. Let’s face it, a lot of people are very hard to love, and I was, undoubtedly, one myself.

There were times when I didn’t really feel comfortable. It was a totally different way to think and behave but, with the Lord’s help, I am now at the point where I can’t think of anyone I don’t love. Love is the fruit of the Spirit that came after I totally submitted myself to the lordship of Christ Jesus. Today, I am gripped by that love and a desire to help and serve whomever I can. I don’t want or need a pat on the back for my service. I don't ask if they're worthy of love. I could tell my brothers and sisters that I love them but if I don’t do something to show them, they are empty words. Actions speak louder than words.

Prayer Time

Father God, your greatness outshines anything we can ever hope to achieve. Even the ‘beautiful people’, the stars and starlets, and the powerful, can never hope to shine as bright as you. Thank you, Father, for giving us the tool we need to become the righteousness of Christ. It’s all contained in the words of scripture. Reminds us to study that instruction manual of love. Your Son is the greatest example of all these attributes that has ever walked the earth. His sacrifice was all that was needed to pay the price for our redemption. We love him for his sacrifice even when we don’t deserve it. He died a horrible death on the cross because he loves us so much. He didn’t die for just the sinners who were alive on that dreadful day. He died for all sinners, for all time, past present and future. That is an unfathomable act of love, to die for people who hate you? How do we comprehend that? We are the sheep of your pasture and we will follow you for eternity. In his precious and holy name, we pray. Amen!