A Great Understanding About Love!
I Corinthians 13:1-13 (from “The Message” & other paraphrases)
“God called me to lay a foundation. This is the one and true foundation. There is no other foundation that can be laid. Do you know what it is?…………..If I came to you today with a human eloquence or an angelic revelation and did not have love; I am nothing more than a creaky rusty gate. If I spoke God’s Word with power and understood all mysteries and could make them as plain as day, and I didn’t have love; or if I had the power to say to a mountain, “Jump” and it jumped, and I did not have love, I am nothing. Listen! If I won the lottery and gave every penny to the poor and even if I went to the stake to be burned as a martyr; and my motivation was not love, I am going nowhere. I don’t care what you believe, I don’t care what you say, I don’t care what you do; if you don’t have love you are bankrupt. But wait! This is not just any kind of love. This love never fails! Let me give you some attributes and you see how you measure up.
* This love cares for the things of others more than the things of itself.
* It does not want what it does not have.
* It doesn’t strut.
* It does not have a swelled head.
* It never forces itself on others.
* This kind of love never says, “Me First!”
* Doesn’t fly off the handle.
* And most important, it does not keep score…..especially regarding the sins of others.
* It doesn’t rejoice when others are exposed.
* But rather, it rejoices in the truth.
* It puts up with all things.
* This love trust in the God that is in control.
* So it believes the best about everyone.
* It never looks back.
* But keeps going, and going, and going……
* As a matter of fact it not only never fails, but it never dies.
You see, inspired speeches will be over some day; praying in tongues will come to an end; all understanding has its limitation.
Hey guys, we only know a portion of the truth. Everything we say about God is incomplete. But let me tell you, when the completed arrives, all our incompletion will vanish.
When I was a baby, my mom fed me a bottle, changed my diaper, rocked me to sleep. But the day came when the Spirit said, “Grow Up!” Then all my selfish, childish ways were left behind.
I’ll be honest with you. We can’t see very clearly right now. It’s like we are trying to see through the fog. It’s like we are squinting our eyes to see through a midst. But let me tell you something. The weather is about to change. We are going to see the bright and shining sun. We are going to see the way God sees. But better yet, we are going to know Him the way he knows us!
But for now, let me give you three spiritual bullets. You know what they are: #1-Faith-Trust in the God that is in control. #2-Hope-Everything ends OK. If you are not OK today…..this is not the end. And #3-Love-Embrace God’s extravagant, unconditional, unfailing love. God wants you to love everyone, everywhere, every time, in every way!
I am going to keep this post close to me at all times. I want this to remind me for when I say something that my heart feels was wrong then I will know it was not said in love.
Amen Cliff what a beauiful day when we all things like Our Father see things.
Love in Christ Dan
P.S Iam thankful that we have a place to start to see the truth of Our Fathers love for all.
God wants you to love everyone
I have no doubt that God does want this. But I think, even more, that He knows that is what will happen if we would only realize how much He loves us. And I’m not talking about that namby-pamby, conditional, requirement-laden, bartered love of God that the church teaches… I’m talking about the outrageous, relentless, overpowering, incredible, unconditional love that is WHO HE IS!
When we can realize (or awaken to) the truth of His love, there is no longer any reason NOT to love everyone unconditionally!
Even though in our hearts we know that love is where our hearts should be focused 100% of the time, it is difficult to see past our own problems and into the hearts of others (where it should always be). It is good to have reminders like this one, that take us back to our soul purpose in life, to bring people to Christ through love. The right kind of love. The love of God.
Some people pretend to love, while others just make it appear as though they love, and there are those who truly love. Those afraid of it might oppress it or run from it, but ultimately, when they sit back and reflect on their life, they will be glad for the moments when we did kind deads that brightened up their days. Days where they truly felt loved and needed. There simply are not enough of these anymore. But as you said, one day we will all know the glorious love of God and know Him the way He knows us. Our motifs, intentions, and sincerity will be revealed.
Faith has gotten me through my toughest times in life. It still does. And love keeps my heart yearning for Him. Jesus is a perfect representation of God, who wouldn’t want to be like him.
Great Blog…I will enjoy reading upcoming posts.
Take care
Spiritual bullets!!I like that cliff.And what bruce said,I’m talking about the outrageous, relentless, overpowering, incredible, unconditional love that is WHO HE IS!
Yep! GOD IS LOVE.
Because of the mixed up doctrines and vain imaginations we have built up in our minds over the years throught our own lack of understanding and that of others.The vail remained.Until the spirit of grace removed it,to show us the glory of God our father in the face of jesus christ.Once this happens the eyes of our understanding of who God our father is becomes clear.We see that christ tasted of death for every man.Heb2v9.Now that love is an unspeakable gift from God to us all.How can we not respond to such love and know we can never be separated from our father ever again?
As you always said cliff,Just learn to live life knowing you are loved.This i do,and it gives me peace even in the midst of life problems.
Joy and peace my friends at bold grace and beyond.
kenneth
Great comments by everyone. Like Kenneth, I love the way Bruce describes God’s Love.
Thanks for stopping by Kathleen. We welcome all and your comment was greatly appreciated.