WATERMARKS OF LOVE

1 John 4:16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is LOVE, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” Jesus described this love in John 15:9. It says, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” This verse holds up His standard, and a perfect ruler to check our growth.

Unconditional means: wholehearted, unqualified, unreserved, unlimited, unrestricted, unquestioning; complete, entire, full, absolute, unequivocal. There is no ulterior motive or hidden agenda. 1 Corinthians 13:1 says that if we don’t have His love we will just be an irritating noise to those around us.

Romans 5:5 says that His love was poured out in our hearts at salvation. We have His love in our hearts. John 15:12 says, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” There is the qualifier. We are to love AS we have been loved by Him. Impossible in our flesh, but He has equipped us to love through His love!

1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” Sincere means that we are void of pretense; no hypocrisy or speaking one way and acting another. Here are a few verses that show us how to obey His truth that will purify our love.

1 Peter 2:1 says, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.” Colossians 3:12-13 says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

When we walk as Jesus walked, His love will be evident in our body language, words, and actions. We consciously let go of wrongs done to us, in order to maintain a right relationship.

WATERMARKS OF GRACE

Psalm 45:2 says, “You are fairer than the sons of men; grace is poured upon Your lips; therefore God has blessed You forever.” Luke 4:22 says, “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth...” Gracious words.

Paul instructs us to speak with grace. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” The Amplified uses the words pleasant and winsome. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Do your words impart grace, or do they cause the hearer to back up in their spirit and withdraw? We are to walk in grace and in the power of His love.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 says, “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up.” Proverbs 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” Notice the contrast between the wise and the fool. Proverbs 25:15 Amplified says, “...soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance.”

Without love and grace, we are ineffective messengers. We have nothing of value to offer. Anything we do in the flesh has no profit (John 6:63). Think about the relationships in your life. Are there people you struggle with? Are there some that you avoid because of unresolved issues? Is there someone who constantly puts you down, and is never satisfied with the things that you do? Do you live in a negative environment?

Think of Jesus in His time of ministry. He was constantly set up by the religious rulers. They looked for ways to trap Him. 1 Peter 2:23 says, “Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” His entire trust was in His Father.

We are promised the wisdom we need if we will but ask. When we find ourselves with impossible personalities, we need wisdom. He will graciously give us the wisdom we need to navigate in the circumstances He allows in our lives. We are never without recourse. We are bid to come boldly to His throne of grace, to find the grace and mercy we need in the very moment we need it (Hebrews 4:16). Lean HARD on His grace. He is your Sufficiency.