How Can We Cultivate Love?

When a baby is born, its parents quickly fall in love with it. Dealing lovingly with adults is not always so instinctive. That is likely why the Bible repeatedly tells us to love one another-it is something we have to work on.  (1 Peter 1:22; 4:8; 1 John 3:11) Jesus knew that our love would be tested when he said that we should forgive our brother  "up to seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21, 22) Paul too urged us to "continue putting up with one another." (Colossians 3:12, 13) How can we do this?

First, we can always keep in mind the love we have for Jehovah God.  This love is a strong incentive to love our neighbor.  Why? Because when we do so, this reflects well on our heavenly Father and brings glory and praise to him.  (John 15:8-10; Philippians 1:9-11) Second, we can try to see things as Jehovah sees them. Every time we sin, we sin against Jehovah; yet, time and again he forgives us and keeps on loving us.  (Psalm 86:5 103:2, 3; 1 John 1:9; 4:18 ) If we could cultivate Jehovah's view, we will be disposed to love others and forgive their offenses against us.  (Matthew 6:12) Third, we can deal with others  as we want them to deal with us. (Matthew 7:12)  Imperfect as we are, we often need forgiveness. For example, when we say things that hurt others, we hope  that they will remember that everyone sins with the tongue from time to time.  (James 3:2) If we want others to deal lovingly  with us, we should deal lovingly with them. 

Fourth, We can seek the help of holy spirit because love is part of the fruitage of the spirit.  (Galatians 5:22, 23) Friendships, family feelings, and romantic love are often instinctive.  But we need the help of Jehovah's spirit to cultivate the love that Jehovah has, the love that is a perfect bond of union. We can seek the help of holy spirit by reading the inspired Bible. For example, if we study the life of Jesus, we will see how he dealt with people,and we can learn to imitate him.  (John 13:34, 35; 15:12) Further, we can ask Jehovah for holy spirit , especially in situations that make it difficult for us to act in a loving way.  (Luke 11:13) Finally, we can pursue love by staying close to the Christian congregation.  Being with loving brothers and sisters helps us to cultivate love.-Proverbs 13:30.   

 Last year, there was a peak of 6,035, 564 publishers of the good news around the world. Jehovah's Witnesses spent a total of 1, 171, 270, 425 hours seeking out individuals to tell them about   that good news. It was love that made them endure the heat, the rain, and the cold as they went about this work.  It was love that moved them to talk to schoolmates and workmates and to approach total strangers on the streets and at other locations. Many whom the Witnesses visited were apathetic, a few were opposed.  However,  some showed interest, so that 433,454, 049  return visits were made and 4,766, 631 Bible studies were conducted.

What a demonstration all of this was of the love Jehovah's Witnesses have for their God and for their neighbor!  That love will never grow cold. We are confident that the 2001 service year will see and even greater witness given to mankind.  May Jehovah's blessing continue with his loyal and zealous worshipers as they 'let all their affairs take place with love'! -1 Corinthians 16:14.

Next time:"Run in Such a Way"

From the Watchtower magazine, 2001