Real Love

Real Love
By Don Vess

Romans 12:6-8 lists the grace-gifts that are present in the Body of Christ. These gifts are not all-inclusive, for there are MANY gifts that God has graced us with that are beneficial and necessary in the body and need to be used. But there is one thing that we all have been graced with and that is LOVE. Romans 5:5 says, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.When Christ is residing in us by the Holy Spirit, then His characteristics begin to manifest in our lives. What is His chief characteristic? LOVE (1 John 4:6-8).

But love can be counterfeited just like anything else can. It can be a facade or phony if it is used to manipulate or for any other reason than it is intended, for love needs no reason.  Sure Jesus gave us the commandment, Love one another the same way He has loved us. John 13:34-34 Passion Translation- I give you a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. 36 For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you're my followers.

We can SAY we have love for one another but our words are empty without demonstration. I am thankful that we have a congregation that is known for the love we have for one another. And that is so good. But we are being put into a situation where our love is being tested in another direction. And that is loving our enemies.

We live in a world that is under constant threat of terrorism from global enemies, threats of war and chaos. We have to deal with people who wish us harm or disagree with us politically to the degree that they will act out violently to prove their point. This makes it very difficult to love them and pray for them.

Two of our EFI missionaries live in a place that is very hostile to Christians to the degree that their lives are under constant threat. Yet they continue to stay there and minister to those people with great result. That is because the people they are ministering to are starving for one thing. LOVE! And, they have plenty of it to give.

It's not always easy to love even those with whom you agree. But it is so much more difficult to love and pray for your enemies.

Romans 12:9-10 AMP- [Let your love] be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast that which is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.

The KJV translates verse 10- Be kindly affectioned to one another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

The phrase kindly affections from the Greek word philostorgos: it expresses the idea of love between friends that is authentic, sincere, tender, and warm. Philostorgos is a compound of the words phileo and stergo. Phileo: is the Greek word for friendship. And the word stergo depicts the love that should exist between the members of a family.

But because the words are joined together to form the word philostorgos, it represents two or more friends who love each other just as deeply as if they were members of the same family. I can say without a doubt that this church family is as dear to me as my own blood relatives. I am sure that many of you feel the same way as I do. And that's the way that REAL love needs to be.

Let's don't forget about the words in honour. That word expresses the idea of being appraised very highly or considered as very valuable or very precious.

This is where Paul speaks of preferring one another in love. It expresses the idea of an appreciation so great that you would prefer to see the person you love succeed even more than you want your own success. You truly desire the best for this person because you love them so deeply.

Peter wrote, 1 Peter 4:7-10 TPT- Since we are approaching the end of all things, BE INTENTIONAL, purposeful, and self-controlled so that you can be given to prayer. 8 ABOVE ALL, CONSTANTLY ECHO GOD’S INTENSE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, for LOVE will be a canopy over a multitude of sins.

The Amplified Bible reads, verse 8- Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude [forgives and disregards the offenses of others.]

This involves us having the love of God shed abroad in our hearts to the degree that we echo His love in our lives. It is resounding in all that we do! This means that we love to the degree that we automatically forgive others even as God, in Christ, Has forgiven us. Peter goes on: Be compassionate to foreigners without complaining. 10 Every believer has received grace gifts, so use them to serve one another as faithful stewards of the many- colored tapestry of God's grace.

As we experience REAL love, we can express REAL love.

David is an OT example of someone who experienced and also expressed Real Love. He experienced it in His relationship foremost with Father God. Ps 18:1 NASB- David wrote, I love Thee, O Lord, my strength. He experienced real love with his best friend Jonathan, son of Saul. 1 Sam. 20:17 NASB- And Jonathan mad David vow again because his love for him was, because he loved him as he loved his own life.

David also had Real Love for Saul; because he would not harm him even when he was given opportunity but left him to God for His righteous judgement.

This is the essence of REAL LOVE: Paul finishes out Romans ch. 12- verses 15-21 TPT- Speak blessing, not cursing over those who reject and persecute you. 15 Celebrate with those who celebrate, and weep with those who grieve. 16 Live happily together in a spirit of harmony, and be as mindful of another's worth as you are your own. Don't live with a lofty mind-set, thinking you are too important to serve others, but be willing to do menial tasks and identify with those who are humble-minded. Don't be smug or even think for a moment you know it all. 17 Never hold a grudge or try to get even, but plan your life around the noblest way to benefit others. 16 Do you best to live as everybody's friend. 19 Beloved, don't be obsessed with taking revenge, but leave that to God's righteous justice,
For the Scriptures say:

Vengeance is Mine, and I will repay, says the Lord. 20 And: If your enemy is hungry, buy him lunch! Win him over with kindness. For your surprising generosity will awaken his conscience, and God will reward you with favor.

21 Never let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.

Only Real love can accomplish such things. But this is how we are instructed to love. It is a discipline that emanates from the heart.