Most Christians think walking in love means trying harder to be nice... but that's not what the Bible teaches.
You are not trying to become a loving person. You ARE a loving person-because you are born of God.
In this powerful teaching, you'll discover:
The difference between the old nature and the new nature
• Why selfishness is the root of all sin
• What it really means to walk in love
• How to stop struggling and start living from your identity
• Why love is the most powerful force in the universe
This message will shift your mindset from effort to identity.
Most Christians think walking in love means trying really hard to be nice to people. But that's not what the Bible teaches.
Walking in love is not about trying to love. It's about walking in the new nature you already have. You're not trying to become a loving person.
In fact, you are a loving person because you're born of God and God is love.
So the problem is most believers are still living from the old nature, the nature of selfishness.
And until you understand the difference between these two natures, you'll spend your whole Christian life fighting a battle you've already won.
"Selfishness is as deadly as poison. It is poison to the spirit. It is poison to the body of Christ.
Selfishness is the nature of the old man and the man who died with Christ. But love is the nature of the new creation. On the man you are in Christ. And when you finally understand this, you'll stop trying to love and you'll start living from love.
Today, we're going to examine the greatest challenge every believer faces. The battle between love and selfishness, the battle between the old nature and the new nature.
And I'm going to show you that walking in love is not about effort. It's about identity.
It's not about what you do. It's about who you are. Let me start with the hardest truth you'll hear today.
Selfishness is the cause of everything wrong in this world. Every war, every strike, every battle between labor and capital, every divorce, every church split, every broken friendship, it all comes from selfishness.
That thing born in the garden has grown so mighty that it governs the nations of the earth. And love is the only thing that can destroy it. Think about that.
Selfishness was born in the Garden of Eden when Adam chose himself over God.
And that selfish nature has been passed down through every human being ever born. It's the root of sin. It's the root of death. It's the root of every evil thing in this world. And here's what's shocking. Most Christians don't even fear it. They fear selfishness in other people, but not in themselves.
They can see it operating in their spouse, in their boss, in their pastor, but they're blind to it in their own hearts. But when you were born again, something radical happened. You didn't just get forgiven of selfishness. You got a brand new nature.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new." That old selfish nature died. And a new love nature was created inside you. You're not trying to become loving.
You already are loving because you're born of Love Himself.
But here's the problem. Most Christians don't know this. So they keep living from the old nature even though the old nature is dead. They keep operating in selfishness even though they have a love nature living inside them. And that's why their Christian life is such a struggle. They're trying to live like Jesus Christ while still operating from the nature of Adam.
1 John 4:16 says, "God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him." Did you catch that? God is love, not God has love. God is love.
And when you were born again, you were born of God. That means you were born of love. You didn't just receive love. You became love because you're a partaker of the divine nature. The same nature that is love.
Now let me show you what this means practically. When love becomes the rule of your life, selfishness stops reigning. And when selfishness stops reigning, everything changes, your marriage changes, your business changes, your friendships change, your ministry changes because you're no longer operating from what can I get. You're operating from what can I give.
"When love is at white heat, selfishness stops raining."
At white heat, that means when love is fully activated in your life. When you're walking in the fullness of your new nature, selfishness has no power. It can't control you anymore because you're not living from the flesh. You're living from the spirit. See, you're not living from the old man. You're living from the new creation. Let me give you an example from apostle Paul's life.
2 Corinthians 5:14 says, "For the love of Christ constrainth us." The word constrainth means has gained control or has taken us over. Apostle Paul's friends thought he was crazy. They said he was beside himself.
But the love of Christ had so set him on fire that he was slowly burning up. His very being was saturated with the passion that drove Jesus to the cross.
And that's what happens when you walk in love. You stop living for yourself and you start living for others.
1 Corinthians 10:24 says, "Let no man seek his own but each his neighbour's good."
When love governs your life, you don't ask, "What's in it for me anymore? You ask, how can I help you?"
Now, here is where this gets challenging because walking in love means you have to let go of your right to be offended. You have to let go of your right to defend yourself. You have to let go of your right to get revenge because love does not operate that way. Love does not seek its own. Love does not get provoked.
Love does not take account of evil. And this is where most Christians fail because they want to walk in love and but they don't want to give up their rights. They want to love people but only if those people treat them right.
They want to forgive but only if the other person apologizes first. They want to be kind but only to people who are kind to them. And that's not love.
That's selfishness disguised as love.
Jesus Christ gave us a new commandment in John 13:verses 34 to 35.
He said, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Notice he didn't say, "Love one another as long as they love you back." He said, "Love one another as I have loved you."
And how did Jesus love us? He loved us while we were still sinners.
He loved us when we were his enemies. He loved us unconditionally.And that's the standard. Not love people who deserve it, but love people the way Jesus loved you. And the only way you can do that is by walking in your new nature.
Because your old nature cannot love like that.
Your old nature can only love people who benefit you. But your new nature, the love nature you received when you were born again, can love unconditionally because it's not your love. It's God's love living in you.
Romans 13:10 says, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law."
When you walk in love, you don't need the Ten Commandments anymore because love fulfills all of them.
You won't murder because love doesn't kill.
You won't steal because love doesn't take.
You won't commit adultery because love doesn't betray.
You won't lie because love speaks truth.
When love governs your life, sin has no place.
The believer who live in this realm under that new law will never commit sin.
Let me say that again. When you're walking in love, you cannot sin because sin is rooted in selfishness.
And when love is reigning, selfishness is dethroned. You're not fighting sin anymore. You're just walking in your nature. And your nature is love.
And I think about what this means for your daily life. When someone cuts you off in traffic, love doesn't get angry when someone gossips about you. Love doesn't retaliate when someone takes credit for your work. Love doesn't demand recognition when someone hurts you. Love doesn't hold a grudge.
Because love isn't controlled by what other people do. Love is controlled by who you are. And this is the freedom most Christians never experience.
They're constantly reacting to how other people treat them. If someone is nice, but they're nice back. If someone is mean, they get defensive. If someone honors them, they feel good. If someone disrespects them, they feel offended.
Their emotional state is determined by other people's behavior. But when you walk in love, you're free from that. Because your behavior isn't determined by how they act. It's determined by who you are. And you are love.
So you love regardless.
You're kind regardless. You forgive regardless. You bless regardless. Not because they deserve it, but because you are love.
Now let me show you the practical benefits of walking in love.
First, it gives you boldness. First, John 4: verses 17 to 18 says, "Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear."
When love becomes the rule of your life. When you grow up into it until your whole life is dominated by it, you have fearless confidence in God's presence.
Why? Because you're walking in the same nature He walks in. He is love and you are love. There's perfect harmony. No guilt, no condemnation, no fear, just boldness.
But when you step out of love, you step into fear. Because when you're walking in selfishness, you're walking in the flesh. And the flesh is afraid. Afraid of being exposed, afraid of being judged. Afraid of consequences. But love has no fear.
Because love has nothing to hide. Love walks in the light. Love operates in truth. And perfect love casts out all fear. Think about what that means.
When you know, absolutely know that you're walking in love, you have nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to regret, nothing to fear of being exposed because you're operating in the light. You're living in truth and there's no condemnation for those who walk in love.
Second, walking in love gives you peace. Because when you're living in love, you're not worried about what people think of you.
You're not stressed about protecting your reputation. You're not anxious about getting your way.
You're free. Free from the tyranny of selfishness. Free from the burden of always having to win. Free from the exhausting need to be right all the time. And most Christians live under constant pressure.
Pressure to perform. Pressure to measure up. Pressure to defend themselves. Pressure to prove they're right. But when you walk in love, all that pressure disappears because love doesn't need to win arguments.
Love doesn't need to prove anything. Love doesn't need recognition. Love is free.
Third, walking in love makes you powerful because love never fails. First Corinthians 13:8 says, "Love never faileth." The red flag is never seen over love's dwelling. Love never goes into bankruptcy. Love never loses. And when you walk in love, you become unstoppable. Not because of your strength, but because you're operating in the most powerful force in the universe. The force that created everything. The force that holds everything together. The force that cannot be defeated.
But now, let me give you the practical steps to walking in love. Because this is not just theory. This is how you live.
Step one, you have to believe in love. Say, "I have come to believe that love is the best method of ruling a home, a business, a government."
Most people do not believe in love. They believe in force. They believe in control. They believe in manipulation.
But you have to make a decision. Do you believe love is best?
Not just good, not just nice, but best.
The best way to live, the best way to lead, the best way to do business, the best way to raise children. If you do not believe love is best, you'll never walk in it. Because when pressure comes, you'll default to force. And here is what happens when you truly believe love is best. You start making decisions differently.
When there's a conflict in your home, you don't ask, "How can I win this argument?" You ask, "How can I love in this situation?"
When there's a problem at work, you don't ask, "How can I protect myself?" You ask, "How can I serve?"
When someone wrongs you, you don't ask, "How can I get even?" You ask, "How can I forgive?"
This is what it means to believe in love.
It's not just a nice idea. It's your operating system. It's the lens through which you see everything. And when love becomes your lens, everything looks different.
Problems become opportunities to give.
Conflicts become opportunities to demonstrate grace.
Offenses become opportunities to show mercy.
Only a few folks believe in love. They believe in force. They believe in intrigue. They believe in five- sense knowledge arguments.
If in your heart you believe that the love way is best, then act it. Not only is it best, but it is your way. It is the way you are going to walk, regardless of how anyone else walks.
That's the key.
You walk in love regardless. Regardless of how your spouse treats you, regardless of how your boss treats you, regardless of how your children respond, regardless of whether it's appreciated or not, you walk in love because it's who you are.
Not because of what you'll get out of it, but because you're a love-person born of a love God, created to walk in love. A new creation of God.
Step two, you have to act on love, regrdless of how anyone else acts. This is critical.
You don't wait for other people to love you first.
You don't wait for perfect conditions.
You don't wait until you feel like it.
You just walk in love because it's who you are. I say, I Am Love,now and forever.
And when you do, you discover you're living in the love realm. Your home is in love.
And whenever you step out of love, you step into darkness and unhappiness. So you learn to stay in the love way.
You found that living in love is actually living in the highest, sweetest fellowship with the Father. It is actually living with HIM.
He has come into your body to make it His Home. Think about that. When you walk in love, you're not just obeying a commandment.
You're fellowshipping with God because God is Love. And when you're walking in love, you're walking with HIM. You're in perfect harmony with His divine nature.
You're operating in sync with His heart.
And that fellowship is the sweetest thing you'll ever experience.
Step three, you have to let love govern your thoughts. Because walking in love is not just about what you do, it is about what you think.
Ephesians 4:15 says, "Speaking truth in love may grow up in all things into HIM who is the head, even Christ."
If you're thinking bitter thoughts, harsh thoughts, critical thoughts, you're not walking in love because love thinks no evil. Love refuses to rehearse offenses. Love covers closely with silence everything that is unseemly.
Here's what that means practically. When you hear gossip, you refuse to repeat it. When someone wrongs you, you refuse to hold it against them. When you see someone's failure and you refuse to expose it because love covers, love protects.
Love believes the best. And when you walk in love, you become a safe person.
People can trust you because they know you'll never use their weaknesses against them.
Love beareth all things. The margin reads coverth all things. It covering closely. It cover over with silence.
What are they talking about? Oh, it is scandal. It is something that has happened that is unseemly. Something that if it were known would injure perhaps a lot of people, might cause a division in the assembly, might break up a family.
What do we do? We cover it closely with silence. We never mention it and the thing dies there and no one is injured. That's walking in love. You don't spread what you know. You do not expose what you've seen. You do not repeat what you've heard. You cover it. Not operation with five-senses knowledge..
You protect people. You guard their reputation even when they do not deserve it. Because that is what love does.
Step four, you have to walk in love continuously. Not just when it's convenient. Not just when people are watching, but as a lifestyle.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 becomes your daily standard. You suffer long and are kind. You don't envy.
You're not puffed up. You don't behave unseemly. You don't seek your own.
You're not easily provoked. You think no evil. You don't rejoice in iniquity. You rejoice in truth. You bear all things.
You believe all things. You hope all things. You endure all things. And when you live like this, people know you're different because this kind of love is 19:41 supernatural. It's not human. It's divine. I am. It's the very nature of God flowing through you.
Now, let me show you what happens when love takes over.
First, it destroys suspicion. Jesus never had suspicion. Even though he was surrounded by godless men, even though one of his disciples was a traitor, Jesus never operated in suspicion. Why? Because He was love. And love destroys suspicion. Love trusts.
Love believes. Love gives people the benefit of the doubt. And you know what's amazing?
When you stop operating in suspicion and when you start trusting people, when you give them the benefit of the doubt, something changes in them because people rise to the level of expectation you have for them. When you expect the worst, you get the worst. But when you expect the best, you often get the best.
Second, it destroys envy. When love governs your life, or do you celebrate other people's success? You're genuinely happy when someone else gets promoted, when someone else gets blessed, when someone else gets recognized because you're not competing. You're loving. And love doesn't seek the ascendancy over anyone.
Third, it destroys fear because there is no fear in love. When you know you're walking in love, when you know you're saying nothing, doing nothing, thinking nothing outside of love, you have nothing to fear. No matter what happens, you're clean. Your conscience is clear. You're walking in the light.
Fourth, it destroys bitterness. Because love does not take account of evil. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. Love does not rehearse offenses.
And when you walk in love, you find that bitterness has no place to attach itself because you're not holding grudges. You're not replaying conversations. You're not keeping score. You're just loving.
Fifth, it destroys criticism. When you walk in love, you see people differently. We see people's burdens in order that we may bear them.
We see their infirmities that we may share with them. We see their weakness in order that we may give our strength.
Love changes your vision completely.
Now, here's what I want you to do. If this message opened your eyes to the difference between love and selfishness, if you finally understand that walking in love is not about trying, but about walking in your new nature, I want you to say right now and confess aloud, "I am loved because I am born of God." Don't just think it, say it. Because when you declare it publicly, you're making a declaration. You're saying, "I'm done living from selfishness. I'm done operating from the old nature. I know who l am. I'm a love child. I'm born of Love, and I'm going to start walking in my nature."
So, go ahead, write it right now, on a piece of paper. I am love because I am born of God.
你就是爱，而非自私。爱是神的本性
大多数基督徒认为行在爱中意味着努力表现得友善……但这并非圣经的教导。
你并非努力成为一个充满爱心的人。你本身就是一个充满爱心的人——因为你是神所生的。
在这篇充满力量的教导中，你将发现：
旧性情与新性情的区别
• 为什么自私是万罪之根
• 行在爱中究竟意味着什么
• 如何停止挣扎，开始活出你的本性
• 为什么爱是宇宙中最强大的力量
这篇信息将转变你的思维模式，从努力转向本性。
大多数基督徒认为行在爱中意味着努力表现得友善。但这并非圣经的教导。
行在爱中并非努力去爱，而是活出你已经拥有的新性情。你并非努力成为一个充满爱心的人。
事实上，你是一个充满爱心的人，因为你是神所生的，而神就是爱。
所以问题在于，大多数信徒仍然活在旧我本性——自私的本性中。
除非你明白这两种本性的区别，否则你将终其一生都在为一场你早已得胜的争战而疲于奔命。
自私如同毒药，它毒害灵魂，毒害基督的身体。
自私是旧人的本性，是与基督同死之人的本性。但爱是新造之人的本性，是你在基督里所成为的人的本性。当你最终明白这一点，你就会停止努力去爱，而是开始从爱中生活。
今天，我们要探讨每个信徒都面临的最大挑战：爱与自私的争战，旧本性与新本性的争战。
我要向你们展示，行在爱中并非关乎努力，而是关乎身份。
它并非关乎你做了什么，而是关乎你是谁。让我先从今天你们将听到的最难听的真理开始：
自私是世间一切罪恶的根源。每一场战争，每一次罢工，每一次劳资冲突，每一件事…… 离婚、教会分裂、友谊破裂，这一切都源于自私。
伊甸园里诞生的自私之物如今已发展得如此强大，以至于它掌控着世上万国。唯有爱才能将其摧毁。想想看。
自私诞生于伊甸园，当亚当选择自己而非上帝时。
这种自私的本性代代相传，贯穿于每一个人类。它是罪的根源，是死亡的根源，是世间一切邪恶的根源。令人震惊的是，大多数基督徒甚至不惧怕它。他们惧怕他人的自私，却不惧怕自身的自私。
他们能看到自私在配偶、老板、牧师身上的体现，却对自己的内心视而不见。但当你重生时，发生了翻天覆地的变化。你不仅得到了自私的赦免，更获得了全新的生命。
哥林多后书 5:17 他说：“若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过。” 看哪，一切都更新了。旧的自私本性已经死去。新的爱的本性在你里面被创造出来。你不是努力变得有爱，而是你已经拥有爱，因为你本身就是从爱中重生的。
但问题在于，大多数基督徒并不明白这一点。所以，即使旧的本性已经死去，他们仍然按照旧的本性生活。即使他们里面有爱的本性，他们仍然在自私中行事。这就是为什么他们的基督徒生活如此挣扎。他们试图效法耶稣基督，却仍然按照亚当的本性行事。
约翰一书 4:16 说：“神就是爱；住在爱里面的，就是住在神里面，神也住在他里面。” 你明白了吗？神就是爱，而不是神拥有爱。神就是爱。
当你重生时，你是从神而生的。这意味着你是从爱而生的。你不仅仅是领受了爱，你本身就成为了爱，因为你分享了神的性情。 爱，就是同样的本质。
现在让我来实际地解释一下。当爱成为你生活的准则时，自私就不再掌权。当自私不再掌权时，一切都会改变：你的婚姻会改变，你的事业会改变，你的友谊会改变，你的事奉也会改变，因为你不再以“我能得到什么”为出发点，而是以“我能付出什么”为出发点。
“当爱如烈火般燃烧时，自私便不再降临。”
“如烈火般燃烧”指的是爱在你生命中完全激活。当你活出新生命的丰盛时，自私就失去了力量。它再也无法控制你，因为你不再是凭着肉体活着，而是凭着圣灵活着。你看，你不再是凭着旧人活着，而是凭着新造的人活着。让我举一个使徒保罗的例子。
哥林多后书 5:14 说：“因基督的爱激励我们。”这里的“激励”意味着它已经掌控了我们，或者说它已经占据了我们。使徒保罗的朋友们认为他疯了，说他神志不清。
但基督的爱如同烈火般点燃了他，他仿佛被慢慢燃烧起来。他的整个生命都浸透了那驱使耶稣走向十字架的激情。
这就是当你行在爱中时会发生的事。你不再为自己而活，而是开始为他人而活。
哥林多前书 10:24 说：“各人不要只顾自己的利益，也要顾邻舍的益处。”
当爱主宰你的生命时，你不再问“我能从中得到什么好处？”，而是问“我能如何帮助你？”
现在，难点就在这里，因为行在爱中意味着你必须放下被冒犯的权利。 你必须放弃自卫的权利。你必须放弃复仇的权利，因为爱并非如此运作。爱不求回报。爱不轻易动怒。
爱不计较邪恶。而这正是大多数基督徒失败的地方，因为他们渴望行在爱中，却不愿放弃自己的权利。他们想要爱人，但前提是别人要善待他们。
他们想要宽恕，但前提是对方先道歉。他们想要善待他人，但前提是别人也善待他们。这不是爱。
这是伪装成爱的自私。
耶稣基督在约翰福音13章34-35节给了我们一条新的诫命。
他说：“我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱；我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样彼此相爱。你们若彼此相爱，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。”
请注意，他并没有说“只要别人也爱你，你们就可以彼此相爱”，而是说“你们要彼此相爱，像我爱你们一样”。
耶稣是如何爱我们的呢？当我们还是罪人的时候，他就爱我们。
当我们还是他的仇敌时，他就爱我们。他无条件地爱我们。这就是爱的标准。不是爱那些配得爱的人，而是像耶稣爱你那样去爱人。而做到这一点的唯一方法，就是活出你的新生命。
因为你的旧生命无法那样去爱。
你的旧生命只能爱那些对你有益的人。 但你重生时所领受的那份爱的本质，使你能够无条件地爱，因为那并非你自己的爱，而是神的爱住在你里面。
罗马书13:10说：“爱是不加害于人的，所以爱就成全了律法。”
当你行在爱中，就不再需要十诫，因为爱成全了所有诫命。
你不会杀人，因为爱不杀人。
你不会偷窃，因为爱不拿取。
你不会犯奸淫，因为爱不背叛。
你不会说谎，因为爱说真话。
当爱掌管你的生命时，罪恶就无处容身。
活在爱的律法之下的信徒，永远不会犯罪。
让我再说一遍。 当你行在爱中，你就不会犯罪，因为罪的根源在于自私。
当爱掌权时，自私就被击败。你不再与罪争战，而是顺从你的本性而行。而你的本性就是爱。
我想，这对于你的日常生活意味着什么呢？当有人开车别你时，爱不会生气；当有人在背后议论你时，爱不会报复；当有人窃取你的劳动成果时，爱不会要求得到认可；当有人伤害你时，爱不会记仇。
因为爱不受他人行为的支配，爱受你自身的本质支配。而这正是大多数基督徒从未体验过的自由。
他们总是对别人如何对待他们做出反应。如果有人对他们好，他们也会以礼相待。如果有人对他们刻薄，他们就会感到防卫。如果有人尊重他们，他们会感到高兴。如果有人不尊重他们，他们会感到被冒犯。
他们的情绪状态取决于他人的行为。但当你活在爱中，你就能摆脱这种束缚。因为你的行为不再取决于他人的行为，而是取决于你自身。而你就是爱。
所以，无论如何，你都去爱。
无论如何，你都去善待他人。无论如何，你都去宽恕他人。无论如何，你都去祝福他人。不是因为他们值得，而是因为你就是爱。
现在，让我来告诉你活在爱中的实际益处。
首先，它赋予你勇气。 首先，约翰福音4章17-18节说：“爱在我们里面得以完全，使我们在审判的日子可以坦然无惧。因为他如何，我们在这世上也如何。爱里没有惧怕；完全的爱可以驱除惧怕。”
当爱成为你生命的主宰，当你在爱中成长，直到你的整个生命都被爱所主宰，你就能在神的同在中拥有无所畏惧的信心。
为什么？因为你行在与神相同的性情中。祂就是爱，你也是爱。彼此之间完美和谐。没有罪疚，没有定罪，没有恐惧，只有坦然无惧。
但当你离开爱，你就进入了恐惧。因为当你行在自私中，你就行在肉体中。而肉体是恐惧的。害怕被揭露，害怕被审判，害怕承担后果。但爱没有惧怕。
因为爱没有秘密。爱行在光明中。爱在真理中行事。完美的爱能驱除一切恐惧。想想这意味着什么。
当你确信自己行在爱中时，你无需感到羞愧，无需后悔，也无需害怕被揭穿，因为你行在光明中。你活在真理中，行在爱中的人不会受到谴责。
其次，行在爱中带给你平安。因为当你活在爱中时，你不会担心别人怎么看你。
你不会为维护名誉而焦虑。你不会为能否如愿以偿而焦虑。
你是自由的。你摆脱了自私的束缚。你摆脱了必须永远获胜的重担。你摆脱了必须永远正确的疲惫感。而大多数基督徒都生活在持续的压力之下。
表现的压力。达标的压力。为自己辩护的压力。 他们承受着证明自己正确的压力。但当你行在爱中，所有这些压力都会消失，因为爱不需要赢得争论。
爱不需要证明什么。爱不需要认可。爱是自由的。
第三，行在爱中会让你充满力量，因为爱永不止息。《哥林多前书》13:8 说：“爱是永不止息。”爱的居所上永远不会出现危险的迹象。爱永远不会破产。爱永远不会失败。当你行在爱中，你将势不可挡。这并非因为你自身的力量，而是因为你正与宇宙中最强大的力量同行。这股力量创造了万物。这股力量维系着万物。这股力量是不可战胜的。
现在，让我来告诉你行在爱中的实际步骤。因为这不仅仅是理论。这就是你的生活方式。
第一步，你必须相信爱。 比如说：“我逐渐相信，爱是治理家庭、企业、政府的最佳方式。”
大多数人不相信爱。他们相信强权。他们相信控制。他们相信操纵。
但你必须做出选择。你相信爱是最好的吗？
不仅仅是好，不仅仅是好，而是最好。
最好的生活方式，最好的领导方式，最好的经商方式，最好的育儿方式。如果你不相信爱是最好的，你就永远无法践行爱。因为当压力来临时，你会本能地诉诸强权。而当你真正相信爱是最好的时，就会发生这样的事：你会开始以不同的方式做决定。
当家里发生冲突时，你不会问：“我该如何赢得这场争论？”你会问：“在这种情况下，我该如何去爱？”
当工作中遇到问题时，你不会问：“我该如何保护自己？” 你会问：“我该如何付出？”
当有人冒犯你时，你不会问：“我该如何报复？”你会问：“我该如何宽恕？”
这就是相信爱的意义。
它不仅仅是一个美好的想法，它是你的运行系统，是你看待一切的视角。当爱成为你的视角，一切都会变得不同。
问题变成了付出的机会。
冲突变成了展现宽容的机会。
冒犯变成了展现怜悯的机会。
只有少数人相信爱。他们相信武力，他们相信阴谋诡计，他们相信五官判断的论证。
如果你内心相信爱是最好的，那就去实践它。它不仅是最好的，而且是你自己的道路。无论别人如何行事，你都要走这条路。
这就是关键。
无论如何，你都要活在爱中。无论你的配偶如何对待你，无论你的老板如何对待你，无论你的孩子如何回应，无论你的爱是否被欣赏，你都要活在爱中，因为这就是你。
这并非为了从中得到什么，而是因为你是一个爱之人，生于爱之神，被创造是为了活在爱中。你是神的新造之人。
第二步，你必须将爱付诸行动，无论他人如何行事。这一点至关重要。
你无需等待别人先爱你。
你无需等待完美的条件。
你无需等到自己想做才去做。
你只需活在爱中，因为这就是你。我说，我就是爱，直到永远。
当你这样做时，你会发现你生活在爱的国度里。你的家充满爱。
当你离开爱，你便步入黑暗和痛苦。所以，你要学会活在爱的道路上。
你会发现，活在爱中，实际上就是与天父建立至高至美的团契。这实际上是与祂同在。
祂已进入你的身体，使之成为祂的家。想想看。当你行在爱中，你不仅仅是在遵守诫命。
你是在与神相交，因为神就是爱。当你行在爱中，你就是在与祂同行。你与祂的神圣本质完全和谐。
你与祂的心意同步。
而这种团契，是你所能体验到的最甜蜜的事。
第三步，你必须让爱掌管你的思想。因为行在爱中，不仅仅关乎你的行为，更关乎你的思想。
以弗所书 4:15 说：“用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。”
如果你心中充满苦毒、苛刻、批判的念头，你就不是在行在爱里，因为爱不怀恶意。爱拒绝重提旧事。爱用沉默遮盖一切不体面的事。
这在实际生活中意味着什么呢？当你听到流言蜚语时，你拒绝传播它。当有人得罪你时，你拒绝记恨他们。当你看到别人的过错时，你拒绝揭露它，因为爱遮盖，爱保护。
爱总是相信最好的。当你行在爱里时，你就会成为一个值得信赖的人。
人们可以信任你，因为他们知道你永远不会利用他们的弱点来攻击他们。
爱包容一切。经文旁注写道：爱遮盖一切。它用沉默遮盖一切。
他们在谈论什么？哦，原来是丑闻。发生了一件不体面的事。如果公之于众，可能会伤害很多人，造成教会分裂，甚至导致家庭破裂。
我们该怎么办？我们用沉默掩盖它。我们绝不提及，让这件事就此沉寂，无人受伤。这就是爱的体现。你不会散播你所知道的，不会揭露你所看到的，也不会复述你所听到的。你要掩盖它。不是凭着五官感知去判断。
你要保护他人。你要维护他们的名誉，即使他们不值得。因为这就是爱的本质。
第四步，你要持续不断地行在爱中。不仅仅是在方便的时候，不仅仅是在众目睽睽之下，而是要成为一种生活方式。
让《哥林多前书》13:4-7成为你每日的准则。你要忍耐，要仁慈。你要不嫉妒。
你不自大，不做不雅的事，不求自己的益处。
你不轻易发怒，不怀恶意，不以不义为乐，只喜欢真理。你凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。当你这样生活时，人们会知道你与众不同，因为这种爱是超自然的。它不是人性的，而是神圣的。它是上帝的本性透过你流淌。
现在，让我告诉你当爱占据主导时会发生什么。
首先，它消除猜疑。耶稣从未有过猜疑。即使他身边都是不敬虔的人，即使他的一个门徒是叛徒，耶稣也从未心存猜疑。为什么？因为他就是爱。爱能消除猜疑。爱是信任。
爱是相信。爱是给予他人信任。你知道最神奇的是什么吗？
当你不再猜疑，开始信任他人，给予他们信任时，他们身上会发生一些改变，因为人们会努力达到你对他们的期望。当你期望最坏的结果时，你就会得到最坏的结果。但当你期望最好的结果时，你往往会得到最好的结果。
其次，爱能消除嫉妒。当爱主宰你的生活时，你还会为他人的成功而欢呼吗？你会由衷地为他人的升职、祝福、认可而感到高兴，因为你没有竞争。你充满爱。爱不寻求凌驾于任何人之上。
第三，爱能消除恐惧，因为爱里没有恐惧。当你明白自己行在爱中，当你明白自己言行举止、思想思绪都只出于爱时，你就没有什么可惧怕的。无论发生什么，你都是纯洁的，你的良心清白，你行在光明之中。
第四，爱能消除苦毒。因为爱不计较恶行，不记仇，不重提过往。
当你行在爱中，你会发现苦毒无处遁形，因为你不记仇，不重提旧事，不斤斤计较，你只是爱。
第五，爱能消除批评。当你行在爱中，你会以不同的眼光看待他人。我们看到他人的重担，是为了分担他们。
我们看到他们的软弱，是为了与他们分担。 我们看到他们的软弱，是为了给予他们力量。
爱会彻底改变你的视野。
现在，我想让你这样做。如果这段话让你明白了爱与自私的区别，如果你终于明白，行在爱中不是努力，而是活出你全新的生命，那么我希望你现在就大声宣告：“我被爱，因为我是神所生。”不要只是想想，要说出来。因为当你公开宣告时，你就是在宣告。你是在说：“我不再自私地生活。我不再受旧本性的束缚。我知道我是谁。我是爱的孩子。我因爱而生，我要开始活出我的本性。”
所以，现在就把它写在纸上。
我就是爱，因为我是神所生。
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