LOVE COPYCATS

If you went to a "normal" school, the word "copycat" probably evokes images of people stretching their necks like giraffes to peep at a benchmate's script, and probably falling over in the process! We were taught and trained never to "copy". Of course, some people failed to imbibe this training (bless their souls!), but thank God most of us did. When it comes to love, however, you may have to do some unlearning and relearning, because "giraffing" is not such a bad thing here. In fact, you've got to be a master copycat!

Using your love software starts with being willing, but it doesn't end there. Please consider Philippians 2:13 again: it is God that works in us both to will and to DO of His good pleasure. There's a WILL-ing and then there's a DO-ing. Now, how do I do the "DO" part? Simple, DO! In Revelations 2:4&5, in order to bring back the Ephesian church to their "first love", Jesus instructed them to REPENT (change your mind, reset your will) and DO the first WORKS. To walk in love, WILL to love, then DO the WORKS (actions) of love!

Ephesians 5:1 instructs us to be IMITATORS (COPYCATS) of God as dear children. You've gotta be a professional giraffe! Watch God (Love) in the bible, see how he loves; watch Him in your spirit, see how he prompts you to love.....and COPY Him! He has not left us to figure out how to love by ourselves. Rather, He has demonstrated His love toward us in Christ Jesus and all through the bible (Romans 5:8, 1John 3:16).

We copy our Father as dear children, we love as we see Him love. We copy Jesus the Firstborn, we love as we see Him love. We copy the Holy Spirit, we love as He stirs us to love. He's the Spirit of our Father, He's the Spirit of love (Matthew 10:20, 2Timothy 1:7). That means that our Father literally gave us the Spirit by whom He loves, so we can love by the same Spirit exactly as He loves! How do I love by the Spirit of love? Stir up! 2Timothy 1:6&7 says to stir up the GIFT of God.....for (or because) God has GIVEN us the Spirit of love. In prayer, you can stir up the gift of God and bring yourself under His influence as a man does with wine.

Observe Love in His Word, then copy Him. Stir up the Spirit of love, then copy Him. Do the actions of love, even when you don't FEEL the feelings of love. Do the actions of love and continue to do them out of this understanding of love that you have. It's based on what you KNOW, not on what you FEEL. DO love and continue to DO love. PRACTISE love and continue to practise love. Continue till you get to where you unconsciously do love, then continuously continue! And when you fail, don't beat yourself up, when you catch yourself not loving, don't sit down there, dust your boots and run on! Your love NEVER fails!