Using The Power of Love to Transform Bad Interpersonal Relationships

Love is supposed to be the defining characteristic of all Christians.  Jesus told us that his children would be identified by this important trait.  They would be people of "Love".   

No other single quality is so critical to the definition of "what is a Christian?"  as this component of Love.  It is the chief thing in Christian ethics.

Matthew 22:37-40   "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".

Love is so powerful, that it has the ability to reflect the character of God Himself.  Look at this marvelous passage, where love is shown to be the evidence of God in us.

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.   There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.   We love him, because he first loved us.  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
-1John 4: 7-21

You are designed by God, hot-wired to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.  That means... that if He is controlling you(?) you are being controlled by Him rather than your own fleshly and sinful impulses.  When you are "filled with the Spirit" (Eph 5: 18), you are not filled with your self.   Instead of being "out of control"  you are "in control".  You are only "in control" when you are "under control".  You were made to be filled by God. You were made to be controlled by One who is greater than yourself.  And when you are(?)  your will  is resigned to His will, your thoughts become conformed to His thoughts, and your life becomes a life of absolute  perfect trust in Him.  Inner-Peace and tranquility is the result.  You have mastery over the details of your life and it always shows in how much love you have.  Love is your identifying mark as a "Spirit filled" and "Spirit controlled" Christian. 

Agape Love will ooze forth from out of you, if the Holy Spirit has taken control of the inside of you. "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love"  (1John 4: 7-8).  Your personality will be taken control of by the Holy Spirit and you will become spiritually minded toward others and toward everything.  This is exactly how love's power can transform your bad situations.  Interpersonal relationships can be transformed instantly when you are filled with the spirit and allow His love to be produced in you.

"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another" Romans 12: 9-10

Love is not an emotion.  It is a command. "Be kindly affectioned one to another  with brotherly love".   This seems to indicate that when love informs your interpersonal relationships, you will be showing forth the very reason for why you were made.  You were created to be a vehicle for God's love.

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" John 13: 34-35.

Love is relaxed toward others.  When you have problems, and when things get a little tense, remember to relax and show some love.  Accept one another.  Live and let live.  It does not cost you anything to be nice.  In fact, you may find that being nice and relaxing a bit, will go a long way toward actually changing the situation for the better.  

Romans 15:4-7 puts it this way...  "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God". Notice these important words..."Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received us".

Relax!  Don't criticize that person who is being difficult. Instead, why not  try being kind?  Try showing a little love. It is best to never speak evil.  Look.

"To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
-Titus 3: 2

Love can work to diffuse any situation, but you have to try it for it to work.  God knows what is best.  He knows how all these things work, and if you try it you will find it to be absolutely true.   All human psychology was designed to work the way God planned it.  The mind, emotions and will of all men, are designed to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, and when they are(?) Love will be manifested.  This is our great identifying mark as God's children.  Anybody can see it and be moved by the great power of this kind of pervasive love.
 

©2014 Earl Jackson All rights reserved.
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