Hinderances Of Love

There are conditions of the heart which can hinder God’s love in our lives. Consider these scriptures:

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:3)

"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (I Timothy 1:5)

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." (I Peter 1:22)

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (I John 2:15)

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9)

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." (Revelation 2:4)

Other truths about love:

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (I John 3:16)

"We love because he first loved us." (I John 4:19)

"If anyone says, ’I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (I John 4:20-21)

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Why do you think the devil counterfeits love with his own cheap imitations?

It is God’s command that we love people because God loved us first. This is not talking about whether or not they love us, too. We are to love those who love us and those who do not. It’s easy to love someone who loves you. But it requires God’s agape love to love those who hate you and hurt you.

Hurt people hurt people. When we forgive those who hurt us, we can show God’s love to them. God’s love is perfect. And perfect love casts out fear. His love heals and restores. Pray blessings on your enemies with a heart which has chosen to forgive. Let God bless you. Let Him heal the wounds.

How has God’s love changed your life?

Have you ever been able to let God love someone through you? How were you affected? How was the other person affected?