times when things don’t seem to be going
your way, and it will quench any spirits of bitterness
and resentment that seek to take hold
of you. Divine love does not pout or hold a
grudge against anyone.
Jesus 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 (John 13:34,35). Jesus did not
say His disciples would be identified by
their works, their speech, the giving of their
finances, their title or the position they held in
the church. He said they would be known by
the divine love they shared within the body of
Christ.
Characteristics of Divine Love
I Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter;
and it tells you that without divine love operating
in your life, your words are just a clamor
and a noise in the ears of God. Without divine
love, the gifts from God in your life are worthless;
your wisdom and knowledge are empty,
and your faith is in vain. Without divine love
in operation, your works, labors and sacrifices
will profit you nothing.
Children of God are members of the divine
family, and they must continually examine
themselves to determine whether or not divine
love is in operation in their lives as it should
be. Can the characteristics mentioned in
the following verses be found in your
life? Charity love suffereth long,
and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is
not puffed up, Doth not behave
itself unseemly, seeketh not
her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth
all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things. Charity
never faileth (I Corinthians
13:4–8).
The Bible tells us that only the things we
do in divine love will be rewarded by God.
For other foundation can no man lay than
that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if
any man build upon this foundation gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man’s work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it, because it
shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall
try every man’s work of what sort it is. If
any man’s work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If
any man’s work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire (I Corinthians 3:11–15).
Only what you do in divine love will
stand the test of divine fire; and those are
the things Paul described as works of gold,
silver and precious stones. All other works
done with selfish motives and for the praises
of men, works done in a spirit of discontentment,
dissatisfaction, grumbling, murmuring
and complaining will be destroyed. Those
are the works Paul described as wood, hay
and stubble; and they will be destroyed by
divine fire.
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