Why Walk In Love?
So, why walk in love? Why can’t we do whatever we want? Why forgive? Why let go of resentment and offense (or Off ends)? Why can’t we just conveniently erase all the people we no longer would like in our lives AND give special favor and treat with preferential treatment the ones we “think” only deserve it?
Would you like the simple answer or the “Lexi extended answer”? I’ll just give you both!
It’s simple! Luke 6:32-36
“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
The simple answer is is that the love of God that gives you the ability to walk in love with others separates the Christ followers from the non-christ followers. You a Christ follower? You’re gonna have to walk in love! You don’t want to walk in love? You’re no different than those in the world (I know you didn’t want to hear it from me, but don’t take my word for it, take God’s word for it!!!) 
I think you’ll take my version a little more easier to swallow. 
I watched “Fireproof” this past sunday evening and will see it again this Thursday with a large group of friends, LG and single alumni classmates! I can’t give a review yet because my students still haven’t watched it; but if you want a good kick in the pants “lesson” when it comes to walking in love with the difficult people in your life – watching “Fireproof” is a must!!!
I believe everyone really loves the difficult people in their lives! Yes, everyone! It’s hard sometimes to respond rightly or to walk in the love and peace of God with certain people, mainly because of our pride or our resistance to submit to the word of God. I had a conversation with God in my car one day; I had made this observation that God tends to put people in my life who refuse, absolutely refuse to be the “Bigger” people! Sometimes, we have to humble ourselves and walk in love with people, but there are times when others humble themselves on our behalf and initiate the “Love Walk” with us. Well, haven’t gotten that in a while – #2 I mean.
And I was just talking to God about it.
“God, why do I have to always walk in love? Why can’t the other person(s) just humble themselves and walk in love with me? Why do I always have to be the bigger person?”
And you get to the point where you don’t want to waste your time with people such as those who resist the “Bigger Person” role. I mean, you’re better than that, right? You’re better than them…right?
Ho – did the Holy Spirit bring the rebuke on! Talk about revealing “selfishness” on the inside of me! Yes me! And pride…not to mention “pride” – the “p” word that tells us we’re better than everyone else when we’re not!
Being the bigger person is never about YOU (Bigger people initiate the love walk, it’s just who they are!) It’s all about them, and I’ll tell you why.
People who are difficult in our lives are like people out at sea drowning in bitterness, anger, hurt, rejection, etc. and their responses to you are like their cloaking device to hide all of that and if you’re not careful, you can be dragged in an under toe and be drowning in the sea of hurt, bitterness, unforgiveness and rejection too. YOU being the bigger person is the same thing as someone resisting the waves that draw you out the sea and casting a lifesaver in the ocean to be a rescue to that person – otherwise, if you refuse to be the “Bigger” person, you both going to be swept out into the sea…and lately, I’ve seen a lot of people floating around in the deepest parts of the ocean.
Sometimes, people won’t want to get pulled in by you, and that’s pride – but they’ll get pulled in nonetheless and they’ll be rescued – if you don’t give up! Perfect love (God’s love) never fails! It’s the lifesaver that’ll never fail! Sometimes, we get tired and give into the “game” of resentment or offense, but we have to just repent, swim back to the shore and continue to pull them through.
We want to be life savers, right? It’s because we love the people out there at sea…we really do! I need to remember that it’s them out there that God has brought into my life – and I’m honored to be the Bigger person – the anchor that softly and gently restores them back to shore. Ahhh…what a relief!
Then we walk in love with others because it affects our relationship with God! What we do to the “least” of our brethren, we do it unto God! the “Least” of our friends, family members and co-workers are those who we can’t get along with the most!!! They are the “least” God talks about. God didn’t say, “If you do this to the greatest of your brethren”? No, he said “to the LEAST”. The least in our lives are the most precious to us…because they are connected to God in a special way. I think about my dad when I think about “LEAST” people, or my unruly family members sometimes. How about honoring them like we honor God – if God is real to us, than doing this word shouldn’t be a problem. I’m thankful for all God’s done in my life – I want to return the favor by loving the least in my life…
Why walk in love? Because it makes you who YOU are! When God decided to put people into my life to walk in love with, He actually gave me an opportunity to allow Love to “make me” all that I was meant to be. Once you think about it, how we treat other people, marks us, and forms who we are as loving people. That, in turn affects who we are to those that we want to love, or who we desire to show favor upon. The beauty in walking in love is that it makes you a better person – ultimately for those who you really do love (and therefore makes you a better person for God). I want to be a blessing to those who God has entrusted in my life, so I gotta allow Love (God) to define me.
This is my understanding in walking in love. I am not perfect in this I’ve succumbed to the waves many times, but I always repent and get back on shore. So, why do YOU walk in love?
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