God's Divine LoveSpeaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: Love is a divine gift from the Lord. When we abide in His divine love, His love will be perfected in us and help us to bear much good fruits in our lives. "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)
Our Lord Jesus expects that we should also please our Heavenly Father like Him. How can we do this? It is the Lord's desire that we should walk in love as He has loved us with an everlasting love. We are to practice love in our homes and the society in which we live. In these days, it is indeed rare to see a true genuine love between husbands and wives. Many life partners are unfaithful to one another. The lust of the flesh has become so common and widespread. Because of this dreadful evil, the hearts of even those who call themselves 'believers' are affected. Many people have become slaves to alcohols, rivalry and to the lusts of this world. So, also, there is no genuine love which God desires among parents and children, because there is no fear of God in them. The Lord God desires that their hearts should be pure and spotless. It is this divine holiness which will help you to love one another. So, examine yourself a little and see whether your love for your life partner is genuine and faithful, whether you are mindful of loving and honouring the elders in your home.
The Bible says, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5). In many families we see partners who instinctively have a loving disposition. They love everyone alike who are in the family and lead a joyous life. But everyone are not like them. Those who seek the love of God are transformed by Him. They are filled with the divine love brought by the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Once, we stayed with a family for a few days. The mother-in-law of our hostess would come to me unknown to her daughter-in-law and level so many charges against her and ask me to pray that God should change her. After some time, the daughter-in-law would come and ask me to pray for her mother-in-law. I did not know how to reconcile them both. I prayed in tears that they should be touched by the Holy Spirit. That daughter-in-law was a genuine seeker of the Lord. One evening, while I prayed with her, the Lord filled her with His divine love and compassion and showered the gifts of the Holy Spirit on her. He transformed her life completely. Since then, she began to love her mother-in-law. She looked after her with great care and concern until she died and joyously entered the kingdom of God. She also became a source of comfort to so many who lived around her.
Dear friend, this is what the Lord Jesus Christ meant when He said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). When we abide in Christ, His love will be perfected in us. Divine love, which is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit will spring out of us and flow over to others who need it. They will rejoice through us. Let us examine our lives and see if God's divine love is in us. If not, let us kneel at the feet of Lord Jesus and pray, "Lord! Change me into a new person. Fill me with Your love." Let us live a life pleasing in His sight.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
Grant me a heart filled with Your love and compassion. Help me to abide in You always and bear good fruits. Remove all my shortcomings and grant me Your divine blessings. Give me a heart to love others and pray for their needs. I give You all the glory. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray.
Amen. |