If you're a businessperson, you may be pursuing the goal of building a business so successful you can pour millions of dollars into the work of God. If you're called to the ministry, you may be dreaming of preaching the gospel around the world.
Yet, as wonderful as those goals might be, there is something even more important you can accomplish. It is something that you as a believer should "eagerly pursue and seek to acquire." It should be "your aim, your great quest" (1 Cor. 14:1 AMP).
What is this great quest? The goal of living a life ordered by and overflowing with the love of God.
A Different Kind Of Love
You see, human love is so changeable it can turn to hate overnight. It is so undefined that it can behave with tender affection one moment and then with jealous rage the next, and be called "love" all the while.
But the love of God, which is the kind of love you and I are called to live by, is altogether different. It is not changeable. It does not act one way today and another way tomorrow. It does not vary according to our circumstances or emotions. On the contrary, its characteristics are distinct and consistent.
First Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us precisely what its characteristics are. This passage of Scripture sets a very high standard for love - so high that you might be tempted to think it's beyond your reach. But it's not. In fact, if you're a believer, that God kind of love is a natural part of your supernatural disposition.
It's in your heart now. You may not be yielding to it, but it's there. When you were born again, God put Himself and His own nature of love inside you. Romans 5:5 says He poured out His love in your heart through the Holy Spirit.
Don't Be Drawn Out Of Your Foundation
However, without the constant influence of the Word of God, you will have a natural pull toward selfishness. We all have a natural mind that has been trained to believe things like, "You have to look out for yourself" and "stick up for your own rights." On top of that, the devil continually works full time to draw us out of love, because he knows if he succeeds, he can pull the plug on our faith and steal the answers to our prayers. In short, he can make a "place" for himself.
The bottom line: Love is the foundation for the Christian life. When you walk in love, you put yourself in a position where God Himself can protect you. When you quit seeking your own, He seeks your own for you. And He is a great One to have on your side, because when He is for you, no one can stand against you (Rom. 8:31-34).
Love is our one and only commandment. Love is the key to God's wisdom, power and protection. No wonder the Word says, "Make it your aim, your great quest."
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God's WORD to their lives.
