Apply the Love and Know God

1 Peter 4:8
Amplified Bible Classic

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins (forgives and disregards the offenses of others)

This subject is a recurring one in my head.  Some days it seems easy, some days it's really, really hard.  But the conviction I feel in my own life has been building lately, and this morning it was not to be ignored. 

You see, I, like probably most of you, have been hurt, disappointed, offended, disrespected - you name it.  I have felt rejected - even when dishing out my own versions of love and acceptance of others.  I have felt ignored by family and friends.  I have felt unsupported by those that I (rightfully) expect it from.  And sometimes, maybe I am justified in my feelings.  While many times these offences are most likely not intentional, maybe sometimes they are. 

The struggle in my own head is a basic human nature one - whether or not someone deserves my love, my forgiveness.  

This is where the conviction comes in.  As the thoughts of these things floated around my head this morning, I knew that if I am not abiding by this scripture, then I am not a Christ follower.  The Bible says that God is love.  (1 John 4:7-8)  And it very clearly states that if I don't love, I don't know God. 

Then I think about the love and forgiveness I need from God.  And I think about how He provided that on the cross, bleeding, hurting, suffering - all while I was undeserving.  How then do I think love and forgiveness is going to be any easier for me? 

We can feel and be justified in our hurts and offenses, Jesus certainly was.  But if we are true followers of Him, we will submit our human nature and take on His - which is love.  It hurts.  But just like Jesus knew, we can know that there is joy in the end.  The peace we can experience when we follow His example is amazing.  

I'm a work in progress, sometimes it takes me a minute to get it right.  But with conviction, prayer and practice, the goal is to automatically apply the love and know God.