True Love
Ephesians 6:24
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
KJV
Paul makes a statement in Romans 12:9 that says let love be without dissimulation. Or let love be real. And here
in our text Paul says grace be with all them that really love Jesus. There is a real love and then there is just lip
service love. It sounds good but it is not real. Paul knew then that in the church there were those who really loved
Jesus and then there were those who just had lip service. In the church sad to say after 2000 years of growth it is
still the same way. There is a way to do a little self inspection and see if we have real love or if we just have lip
service. You want to do the test? OK then it starts here.
Do you love yourself? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? You have to be honest here because you are
grading your own test and if you cheat the Lord will know. And if you have not been honest with yourself, if you
fail in this little test don't quit. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you as the word of God corrects you.
Next question. Do you love your brethren? Jesus said by the way you love each other the world will be able to
know if you are truly his disciples. How did you do on that one? No, just loving the ones that are easy to love
won't work.
Next question. Do you just love those who love you? If so you’re going to have to change that. Because even the
thief and liar can do that and we have to do just a little better if we are to have real love.
Next question. Do you love your enemy? You know the people who are really trying to do you under. They tell lies
about you. They cheat you. They are mean to you and will strike out at you in any way they can. If you don't love
them then you’re not the same as Jesus. He not only loved them. But gave his life for them.
Next question. Are you willing to lay down your life for your brother? The bible says this is not only real love but
great love. For no greater love does one have than he that is willing to lay down his life for a brother.
Next question. Jesus said if you love me then you will obey me. Not just go to church and pray and read your
bible but you will obey him. I can see you need time to think about this question so let’s move on to the next test
question.
Do you live in fear? The bible says perfect love cast out all fear. How do we have perfect love? By keeping the
word of God, and you won’t keep the word of God if you don't love the word of God. End of test. So how did you
do? Remember your grading your self.
This will help you in your love walk. Love is not a feeling but an act of your will. I am talking about the love of God.
Not the so often fleshly attractions we call love.
Romans 5:5 says love is shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Ghost. This happens when we get saved. So love
is in you but will you love or will you just have lip service. If just lip service then you fail not only this little test but
you fail the big test. For God says through Pauls writing if you don't have real love and that not only for me but
for what I love then I still love you but you won't have my favor, your advantage for gain in every area of your life.
So after hearing what God has to say? Take a little time and pray. Adjust some things and get back on track with
real love and the favor of God.