Affection

 

    Affection is a gentle feeling of fondness or liking.  It pertains to crushes, friendships, children, and pets.  It is when you put gentle feelings into action that it affects you or those around you.  God shows His people affection by granting blessings and letting them know when they do good.

    God's people show affection through action.  We give what we have to God's service, to other people, and acts of kindness.  Affection for God comes across as devotion.  You give what you have an your are content.

    When Satan sees something good that God created, he has to twist it somehow.  The same goes for affection.  Satan twist the mind where the emotions turn dark. Over time people's affections turn from holy into something vile and goes against the natural order that God designed.  Evil affection comes through as fornication, inordinate relationships, concupiscence, covetness, impure lifestyle, and idolatry.

    There is a way to know that your affection is not turning into perversion, something unhealthy, or unwanted.  You can turn your affections over to God to approve.  He will guide the heart if you let Him.  Show affection through kindness and honoring one another in a holy manner.  Allow your affection to turn into genuine love, so that there is no room for hate.  Allow the love to give way to patience and prayer.  Be ready to be there for other people instead of focusing on what you need.

    Allow affection to turn into genuine friendships.  Speak honestly, but kindly to each other.  Have an open heart, so that you lack nothing in love.  Don't give in to passions or lust that will lead you to your sinful nature.  Instead crucify them where they will never have power over you again.  Then the Holy Spirit can lead your affections toward humility.  You can love without jealousy, deceit, or pushing the limits.

    There is nothing wrong holding a special place for someone or people in your heart as long as it does not replace God in your heart.  He is the place of truth.  You are able to keep your affections true if you keep Him in His place in your heart.  He knows your tender heart and will not hurt it.  If you heart gets hurt, that is due to Satan's influence.

    That is why you need to set your affections on the things above.  Things in this life will only die over time.  If you focus on what matters, then you will live a good and holy life.  You will meet Jesus face to face in his glory.  

    You want Jesus to have the glory for all the good in your life because of the affection you hold in your heart for him.  It enables you to be truth bearers, call out lies, pure, decent, forgiving, and fierce defender of righteousness even when it is difficult.  Affection under God's guidance makes you a true friend, spouse, and leader.  There is no room for pride when it comes to affection.

1 Chronicles 29:3-5, Romans 1:24-27, 12:9-13, 2 Corinthians 6:11-13, Galatians 5:24-26, Philippians 1:7-8, Colossians 3:2-5, & 2 Timothy 3:1-5