Practicing Love Toward All

 

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:1–4 ESV).

 

Happy Valentine’s Day! It is not coincidental that I chose “practicing love toward all” as the focus for continuing our study in the gaining and using of wisdom in our lives today. After all today we celebrate love. Valentine's Day is our annual celebration of romance and affection, which is celebrated by couples and friends alike, typically through exchanging greeting cards, gifts, or enjoying shared experiences.

 

Knowing that I wanted to write about love today has caused me to have a bit of anxiety. It would be easy to get off path and wander into the tall weeds surrounding the many divisions of politics and culture. That is absolutely not my intention. However, with that said, I must also say that our present culture does not develop an environment where we can practice the love of God toward all people. It seems we have strayed so far from the model of Christ that it is hard to recognize genuine love, much less practice it daily.

 

Scripture does not shy away from urging us to keep the commands of God in focus. Moses taught the Israelites, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… soul and… strength. These commandments… are to be on your hearts… Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).

 

Humans are incredibly forgetful, and the Spirit knows how often we neglect to focus our hearts and minds on the Lord. We often seek the wisdom of the world before we seek the wisdom of God. Galatians 5 lists love and faithfulness with the fruit of the Spirit, who calls us to live like Jesus. Jesus always showed these characteristics. As we engrave love and faithfulness on our hearts, we will grow more open to being led by the Spirit before being led by anything else. I wonder if we think enough about love each day? I hope it is the root from which wisdom will spring forth and bear fruit in your life!