Proverbs 5:15-19; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
If you're wanting some basic, and then some, information about love, then look no further than 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. There you'll find layer after layer of details about love from different angles. We're told what it is--patient, kind, rejoices with the truth, and also what it isn't--not envious or boastful, not arrogant or rude.
I find this passage uplifting and encouraging because it describes the perfect love Christ has for us. Yet at the same time, these verses are challenging and convicting because they lay out how I should be when it comes to giving and receiving love. I want and intend for my love to be patient and kind (and all the other qualities we see here) but, truth be told, I don't always respond that way--even to the people I love most.
So what can we do going forward to get our love (both giving and receiving) in better alignment with what we see here in 1 Corinthians 13? Tami W.
Thanks Woodrow Kroll and Tony Becket for 'Faithwalk' for the reminder of John who used be called the 'son of thunder' but was changed by the 'love' of Jesus. There is hope for me. I'm more like a son of thunder than a person of love. Jesus loves me, this I know for the BIBLE tells me so. I ask Jesus to change me like He changed John. Keep me accountable and I can accomplish this! We all need frinds who help us get though sin. I know I confess to God and He hears and forgivs through Jesus' Blood, but having someone with skin on is reassuring. So that is part of going forward. I need to be forgiving to others but I need to forgive myself. Thinking only about things that are true right noble pure lovely admirable excellent and praiseworthy will produce all of the Fruits of the Spirit. Thank you Tami for your wisdom and for being so down to earth and real!
It's funny? No, not really how things happen in our lives in devo's that the Holy Spirit brings. Just last night my husband confronted me, lovingly, that I have been "snapy" with him lately.
I responded with "When?" and he explained again "lovingly". Isn't it good to have patience given to us. I felt "It is good" that communication is well. It has not always been that way with my husband.
I have been more patient with babysitting two grandchildren lately also. Even though I see no end to full time babysitting at this time in my life, by the way, is not my plan, but God is allowing it. Loving at all times can be difficult, but God will help if we allow Him to.
I suppose if I or anyone else had the answer to your question we could write a book or make a DVD that could change the world? Oh, wait...God has already written the book to change the world! We'll never be able to perfectly and consistently love the way that Jesus loves us but through His word and His Spirit, we can love that way more often than not.
What I see that Love is in 1 Corinthians 13 is what our fallen human nature is not. I see that real Love is the total opposite of what the world teaches us to be and what God desires us to be. I also see that real and true Love comes out of us humans not as something natural but as something supernatural that results for a real experience of this REAL LOVE shown to us by Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. Only those who have experienced real love can give real love. Many times in order to build our patience we must go through trials that test our patience. If we want to learn to be kind we will encounter many people that will test our kindness. Our connection and dependence on God is the ultimate provider of these qualities of love; that's were the challenge arises. Our dependence in Him will determine whether we respond in love or we respond with out love.
As I read ICorinthians 13:4-8 it reminds me of Christ's love for us. He has truly been patient, kind, not selfish or rude, not puffed up, not jealous or boastful. He has truly shown us how to love in all aspects and relationships in our lives. We will be blessed if we follow his example of true love and exemplify it everyday that he lets us live! Forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven us. God said that if we don't forgive each other he will not forgive us so that's our starting point! I believe that once that happens, the rest will fall in place. Be blessed today!
Showing love is not always easy... Maybe if we take the three "what it is" and the four "what it's not" and assign each to a day of the week to 'work on' that might help. So maybe on Sunday I will work on being patient and on Friday I'll work on not being arrogant. I could even change the 'love' assignment each week, until by the grace of God, what love IS grows in my daily life and what IT IS NOT fades away. Nigel W.
Nigel, I was reading all the comments (I usually check in to the site, even when I do not post); and your thought was simply beautiful...and so constructive toward our preparing our hearts!