Love is Key

I received this letter March 9, and feel that it echoes many of the things I’ve been hearing around the blogosphere. I have copied it in its entirety. (I wanted to scan it and simply insert it into this post, but I couldn’t make that happen. So, I’ve had time to practice my typing skills yet again. I take full responsibility for any misspelled words, dangling modifiers, palpitating participles, and typos. All bold and italicized words in the letter are in the original)

Love Perfected

I have walked in this Kingdom message for many years and it seems to me that the longer I walk the more apparent the division in the Body of Christ becomes. We see little groups here and there that may agree on most things, but as a whole there seems to be division in even some basic doctrinal beliefs. We expect there to be division in the 1500 or so Christian denominations and sects, but I have been amazed that those who claim to be the overcoming sons of the Living God are also divided in many areas.

My heart has asked over and over, “How will the watchmen ever see eye to eye?” It has been my assumption that f we are anywhere near the time of the unveiling of the sons, shouldn’t the more mature ones be speaking the same things as it also says in  I Cor. 1:10?

However, recently the Lord has given me some understanding that has changed the way I see this. I heard the Lord say that He is not perfecting “doctrine” in us at this present time, although he has and is giving such great light in this hour. He is now perfecting “Love” in us. Even if we have all knowledge, faith, etc. it profits nothing without love. Just knowing the great mysteries of God and speaking them is not enough to bring us to that ‘perfect man’ we are called to be.

Yet, how do I manifest this love to another? This love must go beyond compassion in dealing with those God has placed in our lives with whom we must interrelate.. We have gotten very religious with our ‘I love you brother’ and words are easy to say. In seeking to understand another person we will listen with an open, non-judgmental heart, and then validate him as a person. It does not necessarily mean that we will see things the same way. They may even believe doctrinal elements that you consider to be heresy, but God loves them as much as he loves you. He may not see clearly yet, but every person needs validating. Also, I am coming to understand that we are stewards (managers) of God’s ‘multi-faceted grace.’(I Peter 4:10)  Multi-faceted means one grace with many facets. There are 6.5 billion people on this earth and each person needs grace in diverse areas. No two people are alike. Remember, we are steward/managers of His grace. I am not talking about God giving these people grace, for they already have His grace. It is grace that I must give. The homosexual needs grace in his area. The harlot another, the alcoholic another. That doesn’t mean I agree with his lifestyle, but I validate him as a person that God loves and can receive him as he is.

I dare say that most people have, to some degree or another, a deep feeling of unworthiness and inadequacy. What we as God’s people have done in the past is confirm those very feelings in one another in word or attitude. Love does just the opposite. It esteems another better than ourselves. It has been said that knowing I am loved just as I am, unconditionally, gives me the power to change.

What we have called love in the past has fallen woefully short of what God has called us to. What we have loved has been our doctrines, our ministry, our church, and we will go to any measure to defend any of these, even if it means to leave others wounded along the way and invalidate other brethren in the Lord, if they do not see things exactly as we do.

The past two years God has been dealing in every area in my life, leaving no stone unturned concerning this unconditional love. He has gone into every dark corner and crevice of my being searching out any last vestige of superficial love, where any traces of prejudice and bigotry might remain and is shining His spot light of Truth upon it. Love must not just be words anymore brethren but in actions and deed.

I have also wondered how it would be possible in a lifetime to learn enough knowledge of God to rule and reign with Christ as the scriptures say in the Book of Revelation. Rev. 12:5 says that the manchild will be caught up to God and to His throne to rule all nations. I believe we are at the threshold for the body to be changed from mortal to immortal and I am seeing that this love is the key.

My heart has been given fresh hope with the insight about being perfected in Love. I saw in the spirit as God perfects His love in us, then that Love which we are will flow out to all that is needed to bring deliverance to a groaning world. The two words ‘caught up’ mean ‘to be seized upon.’ The action is not on our part but on the One doing the seizing. I believe that we will be drawn into that realm of dominion in a moment and be given unlearned knowledge. I have known in a moment things by the spirit that I had not learned in the natural.

So, I am no longer waiting for the watchmen to see eye to eye. I believe God is not as concerned about getting our doctrine straight as He is about getting our hearts right with one another. He is causing us to see each one through His eyes. Then when that Love is perfected in us we shall know as we are known.

Betty Houk
newdaymin@coxnet
Phoenix, AZ