“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Walking in the love of God is critical to our success as believers. However, to do this, we must know what love is and how to activate the love of God that has already been shed abroad in our hearts. (see Romans 5:5) 1 John 4:7 tells us: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God, for God is love.” When we received Jesus in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, we received LOVE in our hearts. That is great news! That means we have the capability to love the way God loves! We have the capability to forgive the way God forgives. Love is one of the fruits of the spirit. (see Galatians 5:22-23)
In order to have our faith work effectively, we need to walk in love because faith works by love. (see Galatians 5:6) A car engine has all the parts it needs to work. However, if there is no gasoline in the tank, the engine will never run, even though it’s in perfect condition. The same is true with faith. You could say that love is the gasoline that makes faith run. If you are having a tough time believing God and having faith to move mountains, then the first place to check is your love walk. Are you holding any unforgiveness or bitterness in your heart for anyone? It is absolutely critical to forgive.
Mark 11:23-25: “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Forgiveness is not optional. Being quick to forgive is key to the success of our faith walk. Someone may say that they’ve tried and just can’t forgive. However, forgiveness is not an emotion. It is an act of your will. You choose to forgive. Regardless of how you feel about it, you act like you have forgiven. You do not rehearse the wrong that was done. Anytime thoughts of unforgiveness come up, you remind yourself that you will not think on it anymore. Instead, you bless the person and think good and encouraging thoughts. Jesus tells us in Luke 6:27-28: “But I say unto you which hear; Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” By obeying this command from Jesus, it helps you to forgive. As you pray for that person, and act in a loving way towards them, it causes your emotions to eventually line up with your will.
Finally, to walk in love, it is important to know what love is. Love is not simply an emotion. It is an action. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV) beautifully describes love. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, it is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…”
Notice that is says it “thinks no evil.” That means, even with people that have done us wrong, we are to think no evil about them. We are to bless and not curse. We are to pray for them. By doing this we do not allow unforgiveness to take root in our hearts. We allow the love of God to abound in our hearts. This allows our faith to work without limits! Take the limits off your faith today and choose to be one who walks in forgiveness and love!
Further reading: 1 Corinthians 13, Mathew 5:39-45, Mathew 22:35-40, 1 John 2:10-11, 1 John 4:7-21
