Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love
1 John 4:7-8 NIV
God is love. The enemy will always try to counterfeit God's love, so that you can draw near to him and to take your focus away from Jesus. Satan has and will always be a liar (John 8:44). He knows the power of God’s love and how much peace it can bring when you surrender your life to Jesus. He also knows that there is power and victory when you have the Holy Spirit on your side (Acts 1:8). And so, he shows you his version of love. I remember listening to a service once and the pastor said that water can give life or cause death. Water can quench your thirst and we need it to survive, but hold someone’s head underneath the water and it can cause death. In the same way that a fireplace can warm up a house from within, it can also burn down that same house if it is not used in the right way.
In relationships we often ask the question, how far can we go with this love? What is the green or red light in relationships? First of all, I think just asking that question should make you want to step back and evaluate if this is a godly relationship or not and if you are on the same page with your values and beliefs. I asked God how I can dive deeper into my relationship with Him as well as my inner circle of friends. How can I be more intentional and where should I draw the line? Well, it wasn’t like I expected Him to write the rules for me on a stone as He did with Moses, but I just didn’t think He would give me an answer in the form of a question. He said that in any decision or situation that I face in life, I shouldn’t ask how far, how deep, if this is going to be a good or bad decision, but rather ask myself, “How will this decision add value to my life?” How will staying over for the night add value to your “godly relationship”? How will watching this series or movie, that cause lust or pride, add value to your life?
But wait there's more. This isn't just the mindset for relationships before marriage, this is during marriage as well. It's also in our day-to-day walk with Jesus.
Purity isn't just physical, it's spiritual and emotional as well. So I need to evaluate my thoughts and emotions as well. Is what's going on in my mind and my heart even adding value to my life as a follower of Christ?
When you play around with love, I promise you, you will get burned (Song of Solomon 8:6). But if you nurture it, place LOVE at the standard that it deserves and ought to be, it will quench your thirst and bring warmth to your life. God’s love as fire and water will provide for you, protect you, and satisfy your thirst (Romans 8:38-39). He will sweep away the plans of the enemy with His mighty roaring waters and burn up the pride and sin from within our hearts.
Are you adding value to your life and the lives of those around you, with the choices that you are currently making?
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