Pastor Emeritus Reverend James C. Carrington, Jr.

Pastor Emeritus| Teacher

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are to be God's chosen vessels through which hurt people can be healed, love is the healing balm that God uses. As we walk in love, we will learn how to see the best in others. If we are going to walk in love, we must choose to get our minds off of ourselves and focus on others and their needs. John 13:34, I give you a new commandment that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.

Love is much more than talk, it is action.

Love is not Jealous or envious.

Listening is part of the love walk, and the only way we can truly come to know others. If we desire to walk in love, then we must work at it. Colossians 3:13 & 14, Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. In other word, we need to get ready to make an effort to walk in love.

The Bible says we are to walk in faith and love. It takes more faith to love some people than others. This is especially true of people who have an unusual or abrasive personality. People that have been hurt don't respond well to others. Usually they have walls up because they are afraid of getting too close to others and opening themselves up to being hurt again. These wounded souls need more than a little dab of love. God is knocking on the doors of many hearts. He wants to use us to gain access into these damaged souls and make a change in their lives by consistently showing love, these hurting hearts will open, their walls will come down, and they will begin to trust us. I Corinthian 9:19, ...although I am free in every way from anyone's control, I have made myself a bond servant to everyone, so that I might gain the more [for Christ].

When we truly see people's hearts, it changes our minds about a lot of things. Love makes allowances for people. Love covers a multitude of sins. I Corinthians 13:7 says, Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person... Let's go the extra mile and do unto others as we would have them do to us. Let's start walking the walk and not just talking the talk.

As we strive to walk in love we are also striving to walk in the unity of the Spirit. Because of our love for God, lets make a decision to get along with others. "United we Stand. Divided we Fall". As Christians our success or failure is linked to walking in love. Only God can change people - people can't change people.