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by Lynda Bryan Davis
  
Words Of Inspiration | The Love Walk

The Path of Honor

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 - But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord

Dearest Friends - Our love walk, hmmmmm, what does that conjure up in your mind? For me, I always thought if you love people they will love you back. It sounds so simple and rational but experience has shown me that is not always the case. I believed in peace, love and joy and always considered myself a peacemaker, but again, experience has shown me that even though we do our best to love those around us and be at peace at all times, the true Love walk is extremely difficult, and at times can become confusing and painful.

We must face the fact that loving people isn't enough if we truly want to be the Light of Christ and exude His goodness, kindness,  patience and forgiveness. People will be rude. People will reach out and hurt us in extremely harsh ways. People will falsely accuse us and climb over us on the ladder of life leaving us to eat their dust in the wake. Beloved, to truly follow Christ and have a Love walk takes a lot of self-discipline, a lot of courage, and totally trusting God to show us His way. For scripture says in Proverbs that there is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof is death. We can choose to be loving and forgiving, looking for ways to encourage others, or totally have selfish attitudes and responses that destroy our walk and our testimony.

Once you determine you want to walk in His Love and be all you can be for Him and for those around you you will discover it isn't easy but can be very rewarding. It isn't enough to just say you love someone, you must truly show them. They are, after all, looking at your actions and not paying much attention to your words. We find that we must love them when they are not lovable. We must forgive them when they have sorely wronged us. We must be patient and kind, showing the goodness of God, without allowing ourselves to become doormats. This is where courage and boldness must be utilized. For in showing the Love of Christ in our relationships with people, we are allowing ourselves to be in vulnerable positions. If we are hurt, hard as it is, we don't need to try to defend ourselves or our actions for God will defend us. We don't need to try to justify ourselves for we are justified in Christ. It is difficult people that teach us tolerance and acceptance. Difficult people, when we truly treat them with love and respect anyway, teach us fortitude and persistence. And it is this persistence that will reveal the fruits of the Spirit working in us including goodness, temperance, kindness, meekness, etc., all reflecting the Light of His Love through us and to others, a Light that will continue to shine brighter and brighter as long as we are walking in faith and victory, having in us the mind of Christ.

So the Love Walk is in a sense "turning the other cheek" without allowing others to trample over you in life. There is a happy medium involved where we can be loving, kind, patient above all, with a determination to both honor God and show others what this agape Love of Christ is really all about. If Christ forgives us all, we in turn must be forgiving. Holding a grudge does not show the Love of Christ, and holding a grudge with the anger that is involved becomes a poison in our own lives and leads to bitterness, which in turn sends us on a downward spiral and into great ills.

Max Lucado sums it up nicely in his Message when he says, “God’s business is putting things right.” Psalm 11:7- The Message-We don’t see Jesus settling many disputes or negotiating conflicts. But we do see him cultivating inward harmony through acts of love: Washing the feet of men he knew would betray him. Honoring the sinful woman whom society had scorned. He built bridges by healing hurts.

Beloved, build a bridge to the people that are lost or difficult in your life by just loving them in spite of circumstances. You will find great rewards in knowing that you have chosen that greater, more difficult path in life by honoring God with your life, your words, the very essence of who you are. Stay in peace and avoid strife. Cultivate harmony, inward and outward, build bridges, all to the Glory of God, for loving God and loving others is what it is all about.

The Lord bless thee and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Num 6:24-26

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all.