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Getting to the Root of It: A Healing Balm of Freedom

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Thank you for everyone who has been praying for my mom. She is in the ICU. Not much change since Sunday.

Devotion:

Love ~ Works of the Flesh Versus Fruit of the Spirit: Who Will Reign Victorious?

What is love? Is it a feeling? A fleeting emotion? Or is it something deeper—something that transforms, liberates, and heals? Scripture calls us to “walk in love” (Eph. 5:2), but how can we walk in love if we do not first understand it? Jesus reframed an Old Covenant responsibility when He declared, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...and love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-40). This divine connection between loving God, loving others, and loving ourselves is crucial. But let’s be real—many of us struggle to love because we don’t fully grasp how deeply we are loved.

Why is love so difficult? Many of us are driven by fear instead of love. Fear of rejection, fear of vulnerability, fear of being hurt. And then, there is the eternal war between flesh and spirit. Our rebellious flesh whispers that we should hold grudges, seek revenge, or remain closed off. It shows up in our refusal to forgive, in dysfunctional relationships, in mistrust. The flesh tells us to do what we want, when we want, regardless of how it affects others. It breeds intolerance, impatience, and self-centeredness. Have you ever struggled to love a friend who was too demanding, too quiet, too loud, too different? Be honest—sometimes, our inability to love others stems from our own internal wounds and insecurities.

The biggest roadblock to walking in love? Our inability to love ourselves. Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves, but what if we don’t even like ourselves? So many of us carry wounds of insecurity, shame, and low self-worth. If we do not receive love, how can we give it? We search for love in the wrong places, hoping to fill the void. But love was never meant to be sought in things, people, or achievements. Love is rooted in God.

Every morning and every night, I tell my husband, "I love you." I text my children those same words. I share love freely with friends and family. But am I truly living that love? Does my love extend beyond words? Before we can love those closest to us, we must ask: Do I love me?

Jesus said the world will know we are His followers by our love (John 13:34-35). And God defines love so clearly:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

So, how do we truly love?

First, we must embrace that we are loved by God (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). His love is so powerful that nothing and no one can separate us from it (Romans 8:37-39). When we receive God's perfect, limitless love, we allow it to transform us. Love for us becomes love within us.

Second, we must believe that we are free to love (Galatians 5:13). Love should be a choice, not a burden. It takes so much energy to hold onto resentment, plot revenge, or dwell in negativity. Choosing love brings freedom. Love is more than a feeling; it’s an action. Sometimes, love requires us to act despite how we feel. When love is rooted in Christ, it flows through us naturally. Love is surrender—surrendering our pride, our plans, our fears to God. It is found in prayer, in time spent with Him, in His Word. Love is trust. Love is letting go and allowing God to carry us. Love received is love available.

Lastly, real love is sacrificial. God loved us so much that He gave His Son. Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life (John 3:16; Galatians 2:20). He declared, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13). Love is about giving. It requires us to lay down our egos, our need to be right, our desire for recognition. Love means giving without expectation. How often do we "love" while secretly waiting for something in return? We give, but then we complain when we don’t receive. True love isn’t about what we get—it’s about what we give. Even in stress, worry, or fear, we have the capacity to love because Jesus first loved us.

Imagine what would happen if we modeled God's love. His love is beyond comprehension. Yet, He calls us to extend that love to others. To let His love flow through us, drawing people to Him. Our love should be a magnet, reflecting Christ. We have an opportunity to love as Jesus loved. So, let’s do just that. Let’s get to the root of it, heal, and let love reign victorious.

Who will reign in your life—works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit? The choice is yours. Choose love. Choosing love helps us get to the root of it.

~ Gail

Prayer: God, help me to love.

Replay from Sunday's Zoom plus Handout

​https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/KMFlT-OOFgNzQD08NaN9jKGKe57Innfiwnxp_IPtHFes4IIPeKK9_5uiy0xTd0bw.pTzVc4JV3MfqOTv6?startTime=1737927614000​

Passcode: i9*v@t0&

With the Super Bowl on February 9, 2025, I would like to schedule our next Zoom call for Monday, February 10 at 7:00 PM. I will send Zoom information out later.

Handout that accompanies the replay:

​Lectio Divina.pdf​

~ Gail

Gail Dudley, The Audacious Advocate

www.GailDudley.com

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