A Love Resolution

2013 has arrived!  Another year is over, and a new year has begun.  Like most, I spend some time considering ways that I might improve myself and means for achieving these goals.  As I ponder how I might direct my focus and efforts, I'm forced to think about the relevancy of certain resolutions.  Some seem rather unrealistic considering my obligations and schedule.  Others simply aren't very important.  What constitutes a worthy resolution?

I'm reminded of a question once posed of Jesus by the Pharisees.  "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"  Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ' Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22:36-39)  It seems that these two commandments highlighted by Christ are quite worthy of my attention and personal growth.  How, though, does one more effectively love God and others?  Our society certainly does us no favors in exemplifying the type of love to which we are called.  It's not an empty word tossed around haphazardly because you strongly like something, but it's something much deeper, richer, and very real.  In striving for an abundant love, a love that increas[es] and overflow[s] (1 Thessalonians 3:12), there are three steps I find to begin taking.

1. Pray
Our love is so shallow and imperfect compared to that to which we have been called.  Thus, we cannot grow more perfect in our love for Christ or one another without prayerfully requesting His guidance and help.  Paul demonstrates this in saying, "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight..." (Philippians 1:9)  Striving for a more perfect love without asking for His help is futile.  We must lift up our petitions before God recognizing our need for His hand in our growth and maturity in love.  In addition to praying for God's hand to help us love more abundantly, this verse also leads us to a second step. 

2. Learn
In the aforementioned verse, Paul has prayed that their love may increase in knowledge.  Thus, we find that our love grows when we seek to immerse ourselves in His Word.  In His Word, God has given us insight and direction to help us love in a more perfect way.  For example, in the well-known and often quoted love chapter of 1 Corinthians, we learn what love should look like.  Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)  From these verses, we gain knowledge of love that we can apply in our own lives.  For instance, when we wish to show love, we must be patient.  We also find that we shouldn't keep a list of the ways in which we've been wronged, but loving means forgiving.  Furthermore, growing in the knowledge of God's Word can allow us to better love our Heavenly Father.  For example, in the book of Romans Paul expounds upon the gospel message.  As He studies and considers this good news, it brings Paul to a point of passionate worship for God's greatness and goodness.  "For from him and through him and to him are all things.  To him be the glory forever!  Amen."  When we delve into the truths of Scripture and see the beautiful love letter of redemption that God has written to us, His children, we can't help but love Him and praise Him all the more! 

3. Follow
Finally, I can begin to grow in the depth of my love for God and others by following His example.  When I was dead in sin and thus an enemy of God, He showed me the greatest love imaginable.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friend, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4: 10-11)  Jesus hung upon a cross and paid the full penalty for my every sin so that through faith, I might have His righteousness and be called a child of God.  How this great love stirs my adoration for my Savior and presses me onward to love others as I have been called to do.

It's not just a January goal, and it's not just a 2013 thing.  He loved us first and He loves us perfectly.  How can we not in response spend a lifetime growing in our love for our Master and one another?  This isn't a new year's resolution.  It's a life resolution.  It's a love resolution.