Showing Our Love

“Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.” –Proverbs 20:28 (NIV)

History has proven that oppressive governments never last long. If a government allows corruption to run rampant in a nation and uses tyrannical means to keep its citizens in line, it is bound to fall when the frustrations of the people are unleashed. Living under the excesses of their government the people will reach a point where they will no longer be able to stand it and the ensuing unrest can spell the end for the ruling elite. It is no wonder then that the nations which are successful and relatively stable are the ones who have governments which see their primary responsibility as being directed to the care of their people. Having an ear for the concerns and needs of their people, and faithfully addressing them, these governments do not fear unrest because the people have faith in its ability to govern them with fairness and justice.

Likewise if love and faithfulness are absent from our interactions with others, it will prove to ultimately be detrimental not only to our relationships, but to our witness for Christ as well. God has given each of us the responsibility to display His love and righteousness wherever we are, so that others may find life and be drawn to Him. However, if we claim to know Christ yet our attitudes and actions towards others do not reflect His presence in our lives, not only will others not want to be in relationship with us, but they will not want to be in relationship with Christ Himself. As children of Christ we are called to proclaim His truth and who He is, in actions as much as in words. We can only do this when we constantly seek to abide with His Spirit within us. When we have allowed Christ to carry out His restorative work in our hearts and submit every aspect of our lives to Him, He will cause His love to pour from within us wherever we go. Like a sweet fragrance it will catch the attention of others and as Christ’s love touches the lives we encounter, people will be attracted and desire to know more about the Saviour we serve.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.