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By Mary Williams At Christmas, we joyfully remember the love that God manifested to the world by the birth of His Son. The angels even announced, "Peace, good will to mankind," declaring that God was removing enmity between Himself and man. So why are we still questioning, "Does God really love me?" If asked, we would answer, "I know God's loves me." But often throughout the day our thoughts and actions say something different. We wonder if provision of health, finances, or wisdom will be present when needed. We draw back from situations because of fear of man or our own inadequacies. We have interpreted "abide in My love" as acting in love towards all people. We have put the emphasis on our works of love and constantly deal with falling short of the commandment. Jesus said: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue (abide) in my love." (John 15:9) In John 17:23, He prayed that the world would know that the Father has loved us as He loved Jesus and in verse 26 that the love wherewith the Father has loved Him would be in us. He wanted us to know the love of the Father in the same way He knew His Father's love. This is not all about me loving others or even me loving God (Does this sound blasphemous?), but rather as Paul prayed that we might know the breadth, and length and depth and height of God's love (Eph 3:18). What is the perfect love that casts out fear? It's not me not making a mistake in my love walk. It is knowing the breadth, length, depth, and height of God's love for me. What is it that can produce fear in you if you know God is for you? Can death? Or devils? Or anything present? Or the future? What is it that could separate you from the love of God? Nothing! Knowing His love for you casts out all of your fears! Do you see how there is now no limit on your faith? Faith works by love--your confidence soars when you realize there is no end of God's love for you. (Gal 5:6) Now what about our works of love? If we had the full revelation of God's love for us it would draw us into a greater desire to be pleasing to Him. And if I'm living in this knowledge of His great love for me I will love others even as He loves me. Love is not a work of the flesh but a fruit of the spirit. The love walk grows out of my heart knowledge of God's love for me. Paul prayed that we might know the love of Christ in order to be filled with the fullness of God. (Eph 3:19) If I'm filled with the fullness of God, I'll do the works of God even as Jesus did. In order to increase the revelation of His love for you, speak to yourself in psalms and hymns and songs saying, "God loves me" (Eph 5:19). To keep yourself in His love, build yourself up in faith, and pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20, 21). Just as the tree must be rooted deeply and grounded securely in the earth to produce desirable fruit so must we be rooted deeply and grounded securely in God's love for us (Eph 3:17) to produce the true Christian witness, the fruit of love. 
Love: the Way to Victory by Kenneth E. Hagin More materials can be found at: www.faithlibrary.org |
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