Owe no one anything except to love one another… — Romans 13:8 (NKJV)
Over the years as I have walked with God, I discovered that certain people find it difficult to walk in God’s love. The only love they understand is the love between a man and a woman, or the bond between parents and children. However, when it comes to walking in agape love toward God and all people, they struggle. When the Bible says, Owe no one anything except to love one another… — Romans 13:8 (NKJV), they find it strange to oblige.
Recently, I was counseling someone along these lines and encouraged her to forgive. She bluntly told me that she could never forgive a certain person. I explained that refusing to forgive means failing to fulfill the New Testament law of walking in love. Her response was startling: she said she could not forgive because she was too deeply hurt. As I pondered why this happens, the Holy Spirit revealed something amazing to me. He explained that people who struggle to walk in God’s love do so because they are closed off to love, never having trained themselves to truly walk in it.
What does it mean to be closed to love? It is quite simple: it means preventing yourself from giving and receiving love. Everyone who finds it difficult to walk in God’s love has knowingly or unknowingly closed themselves off. Through past hurts and negative life experiences, they have blocked their ability to receive and give love. This is one of the most tragic things that can happen to anyone. When a person cannot receive love, they can never truly give it or walk in it.
This is a challenge many of God’s people face, but as a Christian, you must make it your duty to stay open to love. Receiving and accepting love is the key to walking in God’s love, which in turn leads to a prosperous life. Receiving love is all that is required to love everyone, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses. You do not have to force it; just receive and accept love. When you do, you will naturally find yourself giving it as well.
As you give love, it becomes much easier to forgive others when they offend you. It also becomes easier to eradicate bitterness, strife, and envy from your life because you are operating in a higher dimension—the dimension of love. Make a conscious decision today to remain open to love, and do not hold back. Hallelujah!
Today’s Rhema
When you are open to love, it becomes easy to receive and give love without restraint!
Prayer
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for reminding me of the need to be open to love. I decree this day that nothing shall stop me or hinder me from being open to love because love has been shed abroad in my heart. Every difficulty in giving and receiving love is removed from me in the name of Jesus. Amen!
