What ingredients are NOT in Love…

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blog fearlessfaith.net
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19 We love be=
cause he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to lo=
ve God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love t=
heir brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they ha=
ve not seen. 21 And he has given us this command=
: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 4:19-21

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I start with this passage as we turn to how to handle resentme=
nt against someone.   John shows us the source and the character =
of love in our lives.  God is the source of our power to love (v. 19),=
and it is a command from the scriptures to love others as a result.  =
Love is not a one time thing for God, nor does it fade or run out if we sin=
.  God’s love is constant in our lives.  Resentment and bitternes=
s do not have love as an ingredient.  We take away the sting of these =
emotions when we allow love to dominate our character.  Are you holdin=
g anything against anyone today?  Prayer is a good place to start…

 Father, I ackn=
owledge that I’ve held resentment and bitterness.  I confess this as s=
in and ask you to forgive me. Remind me, Lord, to not hold any more resentm=
ents, but rather to love.  Father, I ask you to also forgive me, and a=
llow Your love to dominate my character.

Rev. Jeffrey Brown

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