As the prince of this world, our adversary seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. He works through a variety of avenues, from physical lawlessness to emotional hopelessness to spiritual lifelessness.
In fact, we live in a day nearly void of spiritual power where hopelessness is often masked through addictions and lawlessness abounds both in our homes and out on our streets.
Because of the adversary’s lawless world, the love of many will wax cold.
Why is it important to address a diminished love in times of expanded lawlessness?
Because God’s love is how the Christian combats Lucifer’s lawlessness and rescues those trapped therein.
That is why John would say, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15 NASB).
It is the love of the Father that sent His Son into the world; in turn, it was the Son who ‘acted out’ God’s love to the world so that we could be born again. Now, as sons and daughters of God through Christ, we are to love those in this world as Christ loved us.
In His love we can have compassion on the multitudes as sheep having no shepherd; we can care for the sick and bind up the broken-hearted; and we can feed the hungry and cloth those in need.
It is because of His love we have freely received, and we can freely give.
But what if our love is failing and lawlessness is winning the battle?
Several years ago the Holy Spirit, through His gifts, shared this word with my local congregation—and its urgency still abounds: “I say, ask me for my heart and seek after me. Oh, for the things of this world are temporary, but I, the Lord your God, am eternal. And the afflictions are light and temporary, and one day you will see what a small price was paid for the riches that are to be found in my home. I say, yet a short time and you will see me. But seek me for those who do not know me, because I want them to come too. Ask me for my heart. It is my greatest desire to share it with you. Ask me, ask me, for I will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly—and my heart is good, my heart is good; full of mercy and grace, full of love for my children who are lost. I say, run to them! Run to them! Grab hold of them and welcome them home, for I love them! I love them!”
Yes, ask for a greater measure of His love.
Sit at His feet until your heart is broken for the lost.
Then experience the power of His love when lawlessness is overcome as the lost come home to Jesus!
If this topic has interested you, I’d like to invite you to look into this free, downloadable class I’ve created on loving the lost in our communities and being “the church” wherever you’re at.
The Church as Missionary People has helped a wide variety of people embrace their role and mission as the Body of Christ. The material makes for a great small group study as well. Check it out!
