“Keeping Yourself in the Love of God” – Manifesting Love in Our Lives

“Keeping Yourself in the Love of God” – 

Manifesting Love in Our Lives

Supplement to “Keeping Yourself in the Love of God” posted Oct. 11, 2021

     I have a dear Australian friend who is also an author. She has taken me under her wing and mentored me more times than I can count.  She sent a generous comment about my last story along with a superb story which provides  a superb exposition of two chapters in 1st Corinthians.  Feast on Eva Peck’s narrative.  She and I are like any other Bible authors ~ ~ we don’t agree on everything but both of us love the Lord with all of our being ~ ~  and we each appreciate and love one another!

“Hello Larry,

     I was meaning to let you know how I enjoyed your latest story.  The Jude 21 verse "Keeping ourselves in the love of God" inspired me to write an article, which I'll share with you below.

     I am still thinking of Jennifer and keeping her in my prayers.

     Sending you love and light,

Eva

“Keeping Yourself in the Love of God” – Manifesting Love in Our Lives

     Jude exhorted fellow believers: “Keep yourselves in God’s love.” (v.21).  How is love manifested in our lives?

     Not long ago, someone mentioned the example of Father Damien.  I hadn’t heard of him before, so I looked him up and for those who wish to know more, here is a Wikipedia link.  He certainly was one of many inspiring Christian/Catholic missionaries that were true servants of God and those who they served, laying down their lives in the literal sense of the word. Mother Teresa, of course, was another one, and she had many equally dedicated assistants and successors, who still carry on her work under to Order of Missionaries of Charity.  Sisters of Mercy is another such group and there are countless others.

     Based on my reading and own experience, people can and do have God’s love in their souls without understanding it or formally praying for it.  Their souls may be yearning for it without their conscious awareness.  I would venture to say that many/most of these dedicated servants of God and humanity are on the Divine Love path, which is being transformed at the heart level by God's Essence.  It is the New Heart, New Birth, becoming a new creation/creature which is a necessary process to enter the Celestial Kingdom.  The actual transformation is more important than the intellectual understanding thereof, because it is happening at the soul level.

     As to the expression/manifestation of love, outwardly there is little or no difference between Divine Love (imparted by the Holy Spirit – Rom. 5:5) and natural love (that we cultivate naturally since birth), and in most instances, we can't distinguish those who are on either path.  However, in all cases, love is manifested through care, service, outgoing concern, kindness, helpfulness, compassion and similar qualities.  The specific expression of love flows from people's gifts.  Some are called and gifted to be missionaries and serve the sick or underprivileged.  Others are gifted in different ways.  The book of First Corinthians is instructive in this way, giving some examples of gifts and service:

1Co 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  

1Co 12:5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

1Co 12:6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  

1Co 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  

1Co 12:8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

1Co 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

1Co 12:10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

1Co 12:11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

     The purpose of different gifts is to complement and serve each other as the different parts of a body do.  The chapter continues:

1Co 12:12  The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with [those who are in] Christ.  

1Co 12:13  For we were all baptized [immersed] by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit [the Holy Spirit imparting Divine Love] to drink.  

1Co 12:14  Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

1Co 12:15  If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.

1Co 12:16  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.

1Co 12:17  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

1Co 12:18  But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

1Co 12:19  If they were all one part, where would the body be?

1Co 12:20  As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

     So we are all called to express the love in us, whether natural or divine, in serving one another.  This service will depend on our gifts which vary from person to person.  We should use our own unique gifts to the best of our ability and not compare ourselves unwisely with others and want their gifts to the point of feeling jealous or dissatisfied, as these are not emotions of love.  We should however, desire and long for and pray for more and more Love to better express our present gifts and even be given new ones according to God's will.  

     Paul's conclusion in the famous 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians is beautiful and puts everything in perspective. Starting at the end of Ch. 12:

1Co 12:27  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  

1Co 12:28  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

1Co 12:29  Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Do all work miracles?

1Co 12:30  Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?

1Co 12:31  But eagerly desire the greater gifts. 

 And now I will show you the most excellent way.

1Co 13:1  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

1Co 13:2  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1Co 13:3  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1Co 13:4  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

1Co 13:5  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  

1Co 13:6  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

1Co 13:7  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  

1Co 13:8  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

1Co 13:9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

1Co 13:10  but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears....

1Co 13:12  Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  

1Co 13:13  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.

     So service, even self-sacrifice, as well as all-encompassing knowledge and great gifts and talents, amount to little if not accompanied and motivated by love.

Other Free Writings From Eva
https://universal-spirituality.net/about/free-publications/

Eva Peck
10-26-2021"