John states that God's love is perfected in those believers who love one another: "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:12).
The main hindrance to showing love one to another is the tendency to wait for a feeling prior to taking some type of action that would somehow express love. But love is not a feeling.
Since God is love (1 John 4:8) and God is the Word (John 1:1), then love is putting the Word of God into practice. If we do that, we will be cultivating the fruit of love in our lives.
Too many times, however, we wait for some type of a feeling, and so nothing is accomplished in our lives as far as the fruit of love is concerned.
For instance, there may be a believer who has unforgiveness toward someone who has wronged him. He may know what God's Word says to do in this situation: "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother" (Matt. 18:15).
This believer may pray and fast and do everything imaginable except what the Word says to do. When asked why he is not practicing Matthew 18:15, he will likely respond, "I can't go to that person just yet because I don't feel like I have forgiven him."
The feeling of love, however, would come through acting our Matthew 18:15, for that is how love is perfected-by being a doer of the Word and not just a hearer.
Remember: Feeling follows action.
The same principle is true of cultivating a relationship with the Father. There are many believers who want to cultivate their relationship with God, so they begin praying in the Spirit for a short time.
Then they complain that they do not feel anything, so they quit. If they were persistent, however, and continue diligently to cultivate the fruit of love toward the Father, then the feeling of love would eventually come.
One thing is certain - the true feelings associated with love never come apart from the Father, for He is love.
Jesus recognized this truth at a very crucial time in His life when He did not feel like doing God's will. The place was the Garden of Gethsemane. Our Lord knew that God's will for His life was the cross. He knew that love was doing God's will. How did He react? What did He do?
"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matt. 26:39).
Jesus expressed to the Father the ultimate expression of love of which man is capable. He had said earlier, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).
In the same respect, there is no greater expression of love to the Father from His children than for them to cultivate the fruit of love toward Him by spending time in His Word, praying in the Spirit, and performing acts of love. For by so doing, they will be laying down their lives for their God.
May we believers begin the process of cultivation of love so we will truly love God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind. That is, after all, "the first and great commandment" (Matt. 22:37).
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers