Colossians 3:14 “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Skeletal muscles are attached to bones by tendons and they produce all the movements of body parts. These muscles enable humans to move, perform daily activities and maintain body posture and balance. Skeletal muscles are known as voluntary muscles because you can control their movement. If not for the skeletal muscles, the bones will be disjoint and the body will be shapeless and motionless.
The skeletal muscles of our soul is “Love”. Love is a voluntary muscle that is intentionally put into motion and action. Above all these put on love (Colossians 3:14). Love binds us together, shapes our character, structures our priorities and sketches our spiritual life. We are designed to “love” not hoard hatred and hypocrisy. “It takes 43 muscles to frown, and only 17 muscles to smile”. “Love deficiency” is like “vitamin D deficiency” that makes the spiritual structure brittle and breakable. 1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Lavish giving without love is only pouring milk into a bottomless pot. Without love we gain nothing.
Physiology of “Love” and the spiritual skeletal muscles:
1. Shape: It is the skeletal muscles that defines the features in our face and fashions the shape of our body. The spiritual shape that is witnessed by men is the evidence of our relationship with God. 1 John 4:8 “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” We cannot slander our neighbour, quarrel with our siblings, defame friends and claim to love God. The way we treat those around us is a direct reflection of our love for God. Love is God’s profile and shape, reflected through our lives.
2. Structure: Skeletal structure is static and does not change with the weather. True love cannot be manipulated, coerced or conditioned to change with circumstances. Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.” When the “love of God” is the skeletal muscles that is giving us the spiritual structure, stature and status, we will be the same on the pulpit and the porch. There will be no structural defect in our spiritual stature. The respect, steadfastness and sincerity that we show to human relations will portray the structural quality and the strength of the spiritual skeletal muscle called ‘love’.
3. Stretch: Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, without which the muscles will become tight and rigid. Love is always a stretch. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Genuine love does not repeat the mistakes of others or makes a public display of it. Love is understanding, forgiving, patient, perseverant and selfless. Love radiates the nature of Jesus through us.
Stretching keeps the spiritual skeletal muscles of love in good shape and structure; fit and flexible. The way we treat our fellow beings is the evidence of our spiritual structure, shape and sync with the unseen Father in Heaven.
1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Prayer: Abba Father, Love is not just an adjective description of You but an expression of Your nature. Make my love to shine Your nature into the dark world. Amen
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