Emotions
I’ve heard people say that a believer should have no emotions at all. That makes no sense to me. There are many examples of emotions in the scriptures, love and compassion, laughter and weeping, grief and rejoicing, and many more. The shortest verse in the bible says: John 11:35 Jesus wept.
(There are also many examples of "bad" emotions.)
To have no emotions at all causes me to wonder if a heart has grown cold.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Iniquity in the above verse is defined as:
AV - iniquity 12, unrighteousness 1, transgress the law + 4160 1,
transgression of the law 1; 15
The two greatest commandments have always been; to love God with all our heart, mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Matthew 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Iniquity has always been tied to getting further and further away from God’s instruction, direction and guidance. There are many examples of iniquity abounding throughout scripture. When iniquity ruled the days of Ahab and Jezebel, it’s not difficult to see even a portion of how coldness of heart brought selfishness, anger and then ultimately, murder. It also shows how far they had gotten away from God's word and His ways, as the account continues with a final showdown between the prophets of Baalam and Elijah. (1 Kings 21:1-12) (1 Kings ch. 17 and 18.)
Another example would be Cain when his anger and jealousy ruled in his heart, and he slew his brother.
“Love,” is an emotion. I know that there are different classifications of what love is, but for the sake of examining the different types of emotions involved with a believer who is abiding in Christ,
I’m going to keep this focused on the aspect of “agape love.”
Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Knowing God’s great mercy, kindness, patience and love towards us we should also have the same, mercy, kindness, patience and love towards others engrafted in our hearts. All of us who are believers should know this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He loved us when we were lost in sin and when we could not even begin to love Him back. In the flesh it is difficult to love the un-lovable. To show another person love and compassion while they outwardly despise us is a sign of weakness to the natural mind. But in Christ it is real strength! With His love shed abroad in our hearts, (John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.) Loving the un-lovable is not only a concept, but an actuality.
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Scriptures give us examples of natural emotions which are no good, such as, envy, resentment, unforgiveness, hatred, bitterness, self-pity, and on and on.
But it also gives us examples of what good emotions consist of.
Compassion, kindness, forgiveness, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness...
I would say that all of these, and more, are a great way to examine our hearts, to see if we are abiding in Christ, in His word.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Psalms 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
(1 Corinthians Ch. 13; is an excellent chapter on this subject.)
