Q:  How do you make yourself act lovingly or act with love toward others? 

Denise’s Answer:  That’s a very interesting question, and I believe the Bible has some guidance for us! It’s not about forcing ourselves to love people, but rather about recognizing and letting the love of God inside us flow out. Let’s spend a moment describing the love of God that resides within us.

Think about how much God loves you that He would leave Heaven, come down to Earth, and suffer immensely for our salvation. He was betrayed, denied, beaten, mocked, and blasphemed. Yet, on the Cross, He said, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they are doing.” (see Luke 23:34). Furthermore, He took on our punishment. What kind of love is this?

When you became born-again, the Lord put that exact same love inside your spirit. We can’t force ourselves to love, but we can allow this love within us, agree with this love, and give this love. You see, when Jesus said that if He forgives us, we must forgive others, He wasn’t being unfair because the very love of God has been set upon our hearts by the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 6:14-15). We have been given all we need to act with love.

We just have to humble ourselves before the Lord and say, “Lord, help me recognize this power within me and give this love.” For a Christian, it’s entirely normal to love one another because of the love of God. We may have to forgive repeatedly or overlook what someone else does, but we have the capacity to do it and can give that love.