HOW TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER WITH WORDS

HOW TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER WITH WORDS

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”  (John 15:12)

Love is the most important word in the English language.  It was also the most important commandment given to us from God and the Lord Jesus Christ. “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31).

Gary Chapman wrote a book taught and read by millions titled: “The 5 Love Languages – The Secret to Love That Lasts”. Hal Urban wrote another book titled “Positive Words, Powerful Results”.  In the next few weeks I will be using some of their material along with Scriptures and principles from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to help us fulfill the two great commandants.  Chapman’s book deals primarily with relationships between husbands and wives. Urban’s book deals with positive words.  I want to use their professional knowledge and take that a step farther and help us all learn how to love God, others, and ourselves.  I am praying that the Holy Spirit will help me teach us “How To Love”.

Chapman says that love can be expressed in five different ways or “5 Love Languages”.  They are: “Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch”.  In this message I would like for the Lord to speak to us about the first one which we will call “encouraging words”.  It doesn’t matter what age group you are in, the impact of words is that they can tear down or build up the person who uses them and the person who hears them.  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21).

I am not going to spend much time on negative and offensive language.  The Bible along with most research shows that it causes physical, mental, social, and spiritual problems.  This includes complaining, moaning, whining, and hurtful language.  The words we use are stored in the heart and mind, and when we “speak our mind”, it is the overflow of what is stored in our hearts.  We need to be careful what we put in our minds and hearts.  Our Lord said: "A good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil person out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45).

Words like many other things we do are choices.  We can look for the good in others and in every situation.  We can choose to use good words to.  If you take the time to think before you speak you can be an encourager instead of a complainer or a carrier of bad words.  Look for the good instead of the bad, the right instead of the wrong, 

Someone has said that every word that we speak is a chance to change what is bad into something good.  The Lord Jesus said this about the things He spoke: "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11).  Learning to love like Jesus will make your life and the lives of others meaningful and joyful.  “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).  Encouraging words are a way to show how much you love others and God.

One way to show love through encouraging words is to emphasize what people do right instead of focusing on their mistakes.  One of the most powerful human relations skills is learning how to encourage other people.  Look for, and find the good in people, and then tell them what you found.  Find reasons for praise and applause.  Support others by reinforcing what they do well.  Sincere praise brings out the best in us.  God the Father uses encouraging words: “Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mark 1:11).

Our words are choices.  We are just as free to choose positive and encouraging things to say as we are to complain.  People need to feel loved.  They need to be made to feel that their lives matter and that they are important.  Below are some ways to love one another and love God.

Give encouragement; Express thanks; Acknowledge others; Give a compliment;

Congratulate those you love; Offer words of comfort; make others laugh; communicate your love in words; let others know you are praying for them.

Let’s not forget the first commandment: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”  We are created in God’s image, and He desires that we show our love for Him.  One of those ways is “words of praise”.  “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalms 107:8).  I am not sure if God needs encouragement, but He does desire our words of thanks, praise, and acknowledgement.  “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalms 136:1).

This “love language” is not just a suggestion for being a better person, it is a command from God.  “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8).  Ask the Lord Jesus today to give you more love for people.  Now you know one way to show love.  In the next message you will learn another way to show your love to God and to each other.  You will learn about showing your love with the “love language” of quality time.  This week work on using Words of Affirmation (encouragement), to show your love to your husband, wife, parents, children, grandchildren, friends, co-workers, and especially to your Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.