What is your Nature? From May 04, 2012

What is your nature? Is your nature love? The Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary defines nature as; “The inherent character or basic constitution of a person or thing. Disposition, Temperament, an inner force or the sum of such forces in an individual, a creative or controlling force in the universe, a spontaneous altitude ( as of generosity),”

God’s nature is love, what is your nature? How do we know God’s nature is love?

 God’s love for us is beyond our understanding. Ephesians 3:18-19 “ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

God is love. 1 John 4:16 “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”  In verse 20 it states “If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister,” that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God whom we have not seen.” and verse 21 goes on to state “And God himself has commanded that we must love not only him but our Christian brothers and sisters, too.”

We cannot be separated Jesus’ love. Romans 8:35-39 “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threated with death? (Even the scriptures say,” For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

Love must be genuine. Romans 12: 9-10 “Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”

Christians must love each other. John 13:34 “Jesus says” “So now I am giving you a new commandment; Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Love your enemies. Matthew 5:43-46 “Jesus says” “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust, too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that?”

Loving God is the most important command. Mark 12: 29-30 “Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Hear,O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”

Love never quits. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear.”

Love helps you look past offenses. 1 Peter4:8 “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

We must be known for our love. 2 John1:5 “And now I want to urge you, dear lady, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we had from the beginning.

Beloved we must all strive to have God’s nature and his nature is love.  In this teaching I used the NLT bible.