I read some interesting stuff in a book by Jonathan Welton entitled, “The School of the Seers.” I did not expect a chapter on LOVE, but that is exactly what chapter 10 is all about.

I am grateful that Jonathan shared his wisdom and understanding where love is concerned. Honestly, after reading — I felt like I had really MISSED THE MARK.

Some of you may read this and think, “Well duh Beth, of course it is all about love,” but because of my path through this life — I have often reacted through other filters. Thankfully, my heart was ready to receive a different level of understanding in this area. Does that make sense? So hold on — here we go. I want to share some tidbits from his wonderful chapter on love. What better timing than a few days before Valentine’s?

Page 117 THE FORCE OF LOVE

Jonathan starts out reminding us that Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was not divided into chapters originally. So many of us focus on Chapters 12 & 14 when we study spiritual gifts in the church, but chapter 13 – the love chapter – was placed there for a reason. EVERY SPIRITUAL GIFT HAS TO BE USED IN LOVE.

I have touched on this before when I have shared 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 that states, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” That totally makes sense to me and I can say I understand why Paul said that.

This particular book I am reading is about the discerning of spirits. I have known people who have really struggled with this gift because they AREN’T looking through the filter of love. And I’m sure it is really difficult to see something ugly in a person (especially one who rubs you the wrong way) and NOT have judgmental thoughts, but that is not what God is calling us to do.

DISCERNING OF SPIRITS IS LOOKING AT ANYTHING IN LIFE THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS. Ouch. Wow. For some reason, that really clicked in my spirit. Jesus looks at everything through a lens of perfect love.

What is love? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 gives 16 key points about what love is: 1) patient, 2) kind, 3) does not envy, 4) does not boast, 5) is not proud, 6) is not rude, 7) is not self-seeking, 8) is not easily angered, 9) keeps no record of wrongs, 10) does not delight in evil, 11) rejoices with the truth, 12) always protects, 13) always trusts, 14) always hopes, 15) always perseveres, 16) never fails. I can look at each point and say that many times, “Beth is not patient, not kind, does envy, is rude, is angered easily, etc …”

Ok, now THIS was eye opening and made total sense. Another definition of love is in Galatians 5 starting with verse 22 saying, “But the fruit of the spirit is love …” Notice that the FRUIT IS SINGULAR. If you look in the original language of the text, the fruit is truly singular. It is not the “fruits” of the spirit. LOVE is the ONE fruit of the spirit. The eight words that come after, ” … joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control” are merely further descriptions of the one fruit of the spirit. In other words, love is full of joy, full of peace, full of kindness, and so on. Ok, those were Jonathan’s words. Isn’t that eye opening? I have always noticed that it was the FRUIT – singular, but I never thought of each being an attribute of LOVE. Have I been reading this wrong all of these years?

Jonathan also points out that love is a CHOICE.

1 Thessalonians 5:8
But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, PUTTING ON FAITH AND LOVE as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and PURSUE … LOVE …

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth, and PURSUE … LOVE .. along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Love is not only a choice that is made once, but it is a choice that we make DAILY. Jonathan states that we should be known for having our whole lifestyle revolve around love. OUCH. It is the FILTER that all of our WORDS, ATTITUDES, AND ACTIONS have to go through before we SPEAK or ACT. Ouch, ouch, ouch. I was “bleeding” after that statement.

Oh Father, all of the years I have NOT walked in love. There have been so many situations where my wounds and offenses have led my words, attitudes, and actions … Oh, such deep regret.

2 John 1:6b
As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you WALK IN LOVE.

Ephesians 5:2
… live a life of LOVE, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in God’s LOVE.

1 Corinthians 16:14
Let all that you do be done WITH LOVE. (NKJV)

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, LOVE EACH OTHER DEEPLY, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Love each other deeply? I have to love those who shred my husband? I have to look at them through a filter of God’s love? I can’t pretend they don’t exist?

Without love, we will still see each other through the lense of that past violation. Jonathan says that LOVE LITERALLY GIVES US BACK THE EYES TO SEE EACH OTHER WITHOUT SIN.

This is long, bear with me. It is worth sharing these nuggets of wisdom and life. Trust me, I am leaving out so much!

Love is as powerful as two evil forces in this world: FEAR AND DEATH. Song of Songs 8:6 states that love is as strong as death and 1 John 4:18 states there is NO fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (NKJV)

LOVE IS LITERALLY A FORCE IN THE SPIRIT REALM. Wow! Think about that for a second.

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.

Only by GRASPING and being firmly rooted in LOVE can we be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17b-19
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in LOVE, may have power, together with all the saints, to GRASP how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to KNOW THIS LOVE that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

God shows us unconditional love. That is hard for us humans to grasp.

Ok, I’m wrapping this up.

How do we walk in the love that was poured into our hearts?

1 John 4:16-17
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him.

1. We must acknowledge and have confidence that God loves us.
2. We must live our life pouring out that love to others.

WHEN you keep your focus on the LOVE GOD HAS FOR YOU, then you overflow with that love towards others.

Jonathan points out: WITHOUT love, there is NO DISCERNMENT. When love leaves, so does discernment. OUCHIE. I can remember many times when love left the situation and I guess discernment went out as well.

JOHN 13:35
BY THIS ALL MEN WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

I pray Jonathan’s words have pricked you and opened your understanding in a new level as well. It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit convict me and teach me how to look at EVERYTHING through love before I speak or react in Jesus’ Name.

Happy Valentine’s Day on Sunday.