Love And Attitude

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Monday April 21, 2008

Romans 5:5 (NIV)
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

God has poured His love into the hearts of every believer! Paul was writing this letter to the Roman believers, and he said that God has poured out His love into OUR hearts; meaning all believers.

The most important thing to remember about this is that GOD DID IT!!

I've heard people say that they "have no love" for so-and-so. That's technically incorrect. God has ALREADY poured His love into the hearts of every believer! That means the only issue is whether or not we EXHIBIT that love to others!!

Paul explained to the Ephesians that we need to PUT ON the "new self":

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
22. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23. to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24. and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The "new self" is already there! If you're born again, you have a "new self" (born again human spirit) that is created to be LIKE GOD!

Well, if our new born again spirit is created to be like God, then it is created to be LOVING, because GOD IS LOVE!

1 John 4:8 (NIV)
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

So all believers HAVE LOVE in their born again spirit! It's part of our new nature! The problem we have is in the "being made new in the attitude of our minds" that Paul mentioned to the Ephesians. When we are "made new" in the attitude of our minds, then we understand that we have God's nature in us, and we begin to exhibit the love that God has already given us!

Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23. gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24. Those who belong to Christ Jesus HAVE CRUCIFIED the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The fruit of the Spirit is in our born again human spirits! It is part of us! It is up to us to "keep in step" with the Holy Spirit, by changing the attitude of our minds, and exhibiting the love God has already given us!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your wonderful, life-giving Word. Help me understand Your Word so I can know Your goodness and allow You to govern my life more completely.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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