PURSUE LOVE
But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, loveG26, perseverance, and gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:11
The man of God, Timothy, needed to run from false teaching and the sin that accompanied it and follow after, pursue the things in keeping with the word of God. One thing he was to run after was love. Not erotic, emotional love or even that of strong friendship, but unconditional, Christ-like love. In order to do this, he must stay in the word of God, not just to read it but to live it out, to walk in it. Believers walk in the word by every decision that is in keeping with the scripture. To walk in this “agápē” love begins with a fervent love for the Lord which then extends to the love of others (Matt. 22:37-39). We do not sit around waiting for an opportunity to present itself to us in order to show God’s love. We must hunt down and chase after opportunities to love.
I (Susan) had a pastor/mentor/father-in-the-faith who consistently pursued love. My former pastor, Doug, loved the Lord Jesus and proclaimed His gospel faithfully. He has shown me love during many crisis times in my life. He has tracked me down like a hunter at various hospitals to pray with me and show me the love of God. Knowing that he stood behind me in my pursuit of God and was instrumental in my ordination encouraged me greatly. He even said that signing my ordination papers was one of the greatest pleasures of his life. He loved me at that pinnacle of my life, and he loved me when I was cut down (literally pruned!). God has used Doug’s faithful, Christlike love to hold me up in times of trial. Doug White is now with the Savior whose love consistently flowed through him, and I’m sure he still celebrates me from above.
Do you have a Doug in your life? Thank the Lord for that person and lift them up in prayer. Are you steadfast in your love for a brother or sister in the Lord? Is there someone the Lord is nudging you to pursue in order to show them His love?
Lord of Love, instill in us the ability and desire to pursue love in Your name. Thank You for the loving brothers and sisters in Christ who have relentlessly loved us by being Your loving arms enfolding us in so many ways.