In our spiritual walk, it should be our goal to become like our Lord Jesus Christ in every way. He came to live inside us the moment we accepted Him as Lord and Savior. Therefore, all of His qualities are resident within us, if we allow them to become active and living, as well as exhibitied.

The reason Jesus was able to die for those who despised and rejected Him was the fact that though He loved those people, His love for the Father was greater. Our love for the Father must be greater than our love for others. In that, we can love those who disappoint and hate us because we want to be obedient to Him. As Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you. This is how the world will know that you are My disciples” (John 13:34-35).

Agape love is unconditional. It’s the way that God loves. And so, if we claim to live in Him, we must walk as He did—our love must be like His (1 John 1:6). After we submit to His love in this way, the power that works within us (the Holy Spirit), enables us to be able to do so. Remember, to do His will must also become our will, as it will never work for us otherwise.

This is a lyric from a classic song: “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love.” What the world offers now is lust and sex being passed off as genuine love. What the world needs to see is the true form of love—found in Jesus Christ, demonstrated by His disciples.

We’re to be in the world, but not of it. Separate, but not absent. Has the Father been allowed to show Himself to the world through you today? Express His love to others and the results will come.   —submitted by Samuel E. Hairston, Jr., US