How can we practically "pursue love" in our interactions with fellow believers? Setting Our Aim: Pursue Love “Pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of prophecy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1) What “Pursue” Really Means • The verb Paul chooses is intense—run after, chase, hunt down. • Love is not a mood we wait for; it is a goal we deliberately track with purpose and persistence. Shaping the Heart First • Remember the Source: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). • Ask the Spirit to keep the cross in view; love flows from gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2). • Decide daily: love is an act of the will empowered by the Spirit, not merely an emotion (Galatians 5:22). Active Steps to Pursue Love • Prioritize Presence – Show up in one another’s lives: worship gatherings, small groups, ordinary moments (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Speak Life – Choose words that build up, “giving grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). – Refuse gossip and divisive talk (Proverbs 16:28). • Serve Sacrificially – Meet practical needs—meals, childcare, rides, financial help (1 John 3:18). – Offer time and talents without seeking spotlight (Matthew 6:3-4). • Extend Forgiveness Quickly – “Bearing with one another and forgiving each other” (Colossians 3:13). – Let grace set the tone before bitterness sets in (Ephesians 4:32). • Celebrate Others’ Blessings – Rejoice when a brother prospers; envy suffocates love (Romans 12:15). • Practice Hospitality – Open homes and tables; love grows over shared bread (1 Peter 4:9). • Pray Intentionally – Carry fellow believers before the throne; intercession knits hearts (Philippians 1:3-4). • Encourage Growth – “Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). – Speak truth in love, aiming for mutual maturity (Ephesians 4:15). Guardrails That Protect Love • Humility: “In honor give preference to one another” (Romans 12:10). • Patience: bear long with quirks and slow progress (1 Corinthians 13:4). • Purity of Motive: do nothing for applause (Matthew 6:1). • Accountability: invite wise correction so love stays sincere (Proverbs 27:6). Love Expressed in Spiritual Gifts • Gifts are tools, love is the driving force (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). • Use gifts to edify, not to impress. Prophecy, teaching, mercy, administration—all aim at building the body (1 Corinthians 14:12). • Serving through gifts turns theology into touchable care. Encouragement from Other Passages • John 13:34-35 — love is the distinguishing mark of discipleship. • Galatians 5:13 — freedom expresses itself through loving service. • Colossians 3:14 — love is the bond that holds every virtue together. • 1 Peter 4:8 — “Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Living It Out Daily • Wake: thank the Lord for His love; resolve to mirror it. • Walk: look for one concrete way to serve a believer today. • Reflect: review interactions at night—where love shone, where to improve tomorrow. |
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