In Matthew 24:12 (CEV) the Lord Jesus made a striking statement about the attack on true love in the last days: “Evil will spread and cause many people to stop loving others”. This evil refers to lawlessness or the disregard of God’s word. This disregard of God’s word keeps one away from truly knowing God and this results in walking in selfishness and hatred. When the walk in love is attacked there is betrayal even among closely related people. The Lord said this in Matthew 24:10 (NLT): “And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other”. These are things which are visible in our world today. While this is the case, God tells us in our opening scripture, “walk in love as Christ also hath loved us”. You must understand that the attack on your walk in love is an attack on your walk in the victory of Christ. You cannot walk in the victory of Christ without love.

Our Lord Jesus overcame the world with love and not hatred. While facing hatred, He chose to love. While enduring mockery and pain, He chose to pray for those that persecuted Him, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). Jesus is our model in walking in divine love. Furthermore, when you are born again, you are born with the love-nature of God because God is love (1 John 4:8). His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). With this divine love, you see and value people the way God does. With this divine love, you can forgive those who have wronged you. Walk in divine love always and have no justification to harbor hatred. Don’t convince yourself to hold grudges against people. Quickly forgive. Value highly your walk in divine love. It’s not a weakness, rather it’s a spiritual strength.