Love
Ahhhh…. Love. This is the week we all have love (or lack of
love) on our hearts and minds. First Corinthians 13 is known as the love
chapter.
If I speak in the
tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding
gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can
fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a
faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 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. Love is
patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not
proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight
in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always
trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are
prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be
stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in
part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what
is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I
thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the
ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a
mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I
shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith,
hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
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| Back when we first declared our love for each other. |
That paints a picture of what love should be. Unfortunately,
we often confuse love with infatuation. Young people have crushes on each other
and think that love is all about euphoria. Those marriage vows say "for
better or for worse," and we pretty much just focus on "better"
until "worse" hits us in the face. The worst of times is when we show
what love truly is.
When I think of love, I think of three things.
💓My love for others.
Have I show love to anyone today? Do people know how much I
care about them? We can show love to others in many different ways, depending
on the person in the situation. You can offer a prayer, a hug, a smile, a meal,
a shoulder to cry on, a message, or simply your silent presence.
💓💓Showing love even when it's hard.
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| Our wedding day. We were so young, but our love was growing.. |
This is needed more than ever in today's society. Just
driving to the grocery store can be a test of all the love we have us. People
drive too fast or too slow and we are annoyed. People position their cart in
the middle of the aisle, blocking your path. When you say, "Excuse
me," they huff and puff while noisily maneuvering their cart out of the
way, irritated that you're bothering them. Then people park their cars in the
"no parking zones" and block your path down the ramp, forcing you to
go over the curb with a cart full of groceries that weighs more than you do.
Then there are the people who are supposed to love us, but
only end up hurting us, repeatedly. Regardless of our circumstances, we need to
have a loving attitude. It's hard, but necessary.
💓💓💓Christ's love for me.
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| 27 years, 3 kids, and 2 sons-in-law later, we've learned a lot about love. |
There is no greater love than the love God has for you and
me. He knew we were shameful, sinful beings, yet He wanted to give us an
opportunity to live in heaven with Him for all eternity. In order for that to
happen, God had to give up His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to take the
punishment that we deserved.
"For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
That's the kind of love we should try to emulate every day.
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