All our worship hinges on one premise . . . Love! It is because God loved us He gave His only begotten Son. It is how others will know we are His disciples, and without it all our worship is in vain. So, this month we assess our worship by asking, “How's Your Love Life?”

How's your Love Life?

It can be measured by your actions. Are they kind, selfless, and compassionate? Or are your days spent being rude, brash, arrogant, and self-centered?

Everything we do and say for God equals much to do about nothing if it is not anchored and driven by love. Surely we will see the prophecies we speak fail, the hands we lay on producing everything but wholeness, and the relationships we try to build destroyed without love.

Over the last 5-10 years I have heard many leaders, preachers, and pastors speak of revival and the restoration of the miraculous power of God to the church. I tell you the truth, there will be no real revival and no true demonstration of the power of God without kicking our love life up several notches. We hear talk of the return to the Acts church. Umm hmm, yes we do. It will not happen without compassionate, merciful, and burden bearing love.

I have been looking at my own life by the Spirit of God. At the same time, I have been looking around me at the interactions we have with one another, and I see a lot. Unfortunately, what I see is not a lot of love. Here is what I do see. I see broken promises, puffed up knowledge, strife, contentious arguments, and frankly too much flesh. We say yea, but in our heart we are saying nay. We have our minds made up about what we are going to tolerate and from whom. We say things like, “I am tired of letting them talk to me this way,” or “I do not have to put up with them, put up with this, or put up with that.” This is not what our lives should reflect. Our love lives should be deep and strong enough to make up for faults and overlook insults. We should not work ill towards each other, devour, malign and slander one another.

Our day-to-day interactions must be actions of service, prayer, and helpfulness. At the same time, we must lay down our own desires and the lusts of the flesh and support, encourage, and stimulate our friends, family, co-workers, ministry partners, and brothers and sisters in Christ.

We prove we are God's disciples by our love lives, not by how spiritually gifted we are. One benefit of love will be a path clearly illuminated allowing you to avoid stumbling and falling into darkness and sin. If you and others around you are stumbling, ask “How's your love life?”

Scriptures to build up your love life: 2 Samuel 1:26, Proverbs 10:12, 17:17, 27:10, 17, Ecclesiastes 4:9, Isaiah 58:7, Luke 10:33, John 13:35, 15:13, Acts 20:35, Romans 13:10, 14:13, Galatians 5:13, 15, Ephesians 4:2, 6:9, Philippians 1:9, Colossians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, James 5:12, 1 Peter 1:22, 4:8, 1 John 2:10, and of course the love chapter 1 Corinthians 13.

Loving you enough to say the hard things,

Karen M. Pina

GOD's Coach

© 2008 Gifts Ordained by Direction/Karen M. Pina

©2008 All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted and copied in full without special permission, provided it is used for non-profit purposes and full attribution, copyright notice, and About The Author information remain intact. Send a courtesy e-mail to kpina@godscoach.com and let us know where the article will appear. For all other purposes, please contact Gifts Ordained by Direction, PO Box 110022 , Trumbull , CT 06611 , www.godscoach.com .

BIO

Karen M. Pina is a leadership coach and the CEO of Gifts Ordained by Direction www.godscoach.com , a coaching practice that addresses everyday leadership issues. Pick up a copy of Karen's book “ Leadership FITness ” and get FIT physically, financially, and spiritually.

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