Spring 2003
Dwell In Love
Nancy T Warner

“Love” is a fruit of the spirit, an “attribute,” or spiritual quality, that is developed within our lives. This “fruit of the spirit” (love) will be formed within me, through the choices that I make, as I walk on the paths which the Lord has before ordained for me. I choose to love. I choose to forgive. These choices are doors which enables the “workman” of my life to work within me, in the formation of my new nature.

God is the “workman.” I am the product. God is working in me to will and to do His good pleasure. I have been predestined to be conformed into the image and likeness of God. God is love. Therefore, this is not something that God chooses to do as a duty, rather, it is His very nature to do so, and flows out from His love for us. As I walk on the paths that God has before ordained for my life, His divine favor, or approbation, rests on my life, and the Lord draws me to Himself in a love relationship.

This quality of divine love must function in every level and aspect of my life. These choices are to be actively made. I am to contend for love. I am to contend for forgiveness. We are not to let things settle in our hearts, things that would weigh us down and choke us. I must desire to love and to forgive. “Lord, I desire to be as You are. Father, shed Your love abroad in my heart!”

As I make these choices, the “fruit of the Spirit” will be formed within me. My nature changes. Soon, it is no longer just a choice to love, but it becomes my very reaction to love, it becomes the way that I respond, no matter the circumstance. Why? Something (self-centered self) has died within me, through the choices I have been making. Now, it is no longer the Adamic, but it is Christ’s nature living within me.

This is the level of spirituality that the Lord desires to work within our hearts, that there can come forth this change deep within us. I John talks about God’s love being “perfected” in us, as we keep His word (I John 2:5); love one another (I John 4:12); and dwell in love (I John 4:17). As I love, there is no occasion of stumbling inside of me (I John 2:10). Love will keep me from falling, from error, and from sin.

I John 3:14 says that if I love, I have passed from death into life. I have passed from mere religious form, from outward show and ceremony, into an up-resurrection from among the living dead, into a life of communion and fellowship with the Lord.

When Jesus was persecuted, He said, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing. Father, I commit My Spirit into Your hands.” This is the total victory of the cross. I John 2:5 says, “we know we are in Him, if we are loving.” The key to abiding in John chapter 15 is love; our heart attitude one toward another.

The Lord is bringing us to the place where if we see a fault or a weak area in another, we will stand in prayer and in intercession for them, until that area begins to bloom.

Francis Frangipane said in his book, “Truth, Holiness, and the Presence of God.” “Anyone can pass judgment, but can they save? Can they lay down their lives in love, intercession, and faith, for the one judged? Can they target an area of need, and then, rather than criticizing; fast and pray, asking God to supply the very virtue they feel is lacking? And then, can they persevere in love-motivated prayer until that fallen area blooms in godliness? Such is the life that Christ commands we follow!”

He goes on to say that in the Kingdom of God, unless we are first committed to die for a person, we are not permitted to judge them. Are you willing? If you see a need or a fault in me, are you willing to lay down your life in love and intercession for me? Will you pray for me? Will you stand with me in my weak area until a change takes place? Will you continue to pray, not just a quick little prayer, but will you persevere in prayer, praying for me until that area blossoms in my life?

Are we willing to lay down our lives for each other? Are we willing to love each other? Are we willing to care about each other? This is the nature and the character that is being worked inside of us through the process of time.

God is love. He is bringing forth a people who resemble Him. We will never become holy by criticizing other people. We will never be brought nearer to God through finding fault.

The key is love.