ICS Daily Devotions
Working Together in Love
Hebrews 10:17 (NKJV) then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
There will be many opportunities for us to have differences whenever we live or work together as a family or community. There are different ways of doing things and everyone has different thoughts and methods. There will be occasions when we might have said the wrong thing or done things differently. How we reach out to make reconciliation and work out the differences will be very much dependent on the act of agape love. Agape love is not irritable and touchy, rough or hostile but graceful under pressure. It does not keep an account of wrong. It erases resentments. God remembers our sins no more therefore do not bring up the past and use it as a weapon or ammunition to attack. In fact, when we repeat a matter the wound will never heal and ultimately it will rot and the relationship will break! When we do not repeat a matter then it will allow the wound and the relationship to heal.
Corinthians13: 5 (Amplified) It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered];love does not consider a wrong endured.
How does Agape love look like when we serve and worship together? In a church setting, there is a time and season for different ministries. God will instruct and show the Senior Pastor what is to be done in view of the mandate given to the local church. Therefore old ministries will close and new ministries will open.
Many people will refuse to change or move into the new ministry. Neither do we like to be told what to do. We demand our rights and privileges. Sometimes, we refuse to submit but rather choose to continue to operate privately or even leave the church. We might even speak negatively of the new ministry despite all knowledge that we have acquired from our studies. It is divisive no matter how valid the reason is.
But if we allow Agape love to flow within us then we will be able to establish a good working relationship with the new ministry head since God is directing us into a new season of ministry. It is a love of choice even when we don’t feel like it. We want to see the highest good of the new ministry head regardless whether we respect the person or not. That’s walking in Agape love. That’s Spiritual maturity.
Agape love is to see the highest good of the person whom we are to love. We would want them to succeed. We want them to feel our acceptance. We love them regardless of their worth. Agape love will also cause us to pursue the restoration of a relationship even though we might not be the best of friends after our differences. We want to love by choice because He first loved us.
Sermon Series – How to Love (Part 4)
