I would like to talk with you about the
beautiful effects of love in the believer
and the peace available to you through
Christ Jesus. Real love is long-suffering.
It causes us to love our neighbor as
ourselves.
Recently a friend shared that he could
not pray for someone who had offended
him. As he prayed about this, God spoke
to him and said, “Pray for your brother.”
The man confessed, “I do not feel that
he is my brother.” God’s spoke again.
“Pray for him as a friend” and the man
replied, “He has betrayed me, He has
not been a friend to me.” And God
whispered, “Pray for your enemies.”
Oh, this is agape love when we can love
our enemies as ourselves. The evidence
of His love is always peace. Without it,
we are so easily offended. How I dislike
seeing a sensitive Christian with his
feelings always on his sleeve. The only
thing that will keep us from the peace
of God is ourselves. Amid problems
and disappointments, His peace may
reign undisturbed. That is the kind of
peace he desires to fill you with today.
Sometimes, as a pastor, I am amazed at
how little it takes to destroy the peace
and comfort of His children. Jesus said,
“Peace, I give. Not as the world gives,
neither can the world take it.” Peace
has been made available for you by
Christ on the cross. Accept it today.
Father, give us love for one another even
as you have loved us.
Amen.
No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. John 15:13-15 CSB
