Love suffers long and is
kind… —1 Corinthians 13:4
CHAMBERS} “Love is not premeditated– it is spontaneous; that is, it
bursts forth in extraordinary ways. There is nothing of precise certainty in
Paul’s description of love. We cannot predetermine our thoughts and actions by
saying, “Now I will never think any evil thoughts, and I will believe
everything that Jesus would have me to believe.” No, the characteristic of love
is spontaneity. We don’t deliberately set the statements of Jesus before us as
our standard, but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according
to His standard without even realizing it. […] The fountains from which love
flows are in God, not in us. […] His love is there only because it “has been
poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 5:5).”
{ELGIN} (1 John 4:19) “We
love because he [God] first loved us.” We
have the capacity to love like God loves because God loves us. He is the source of love. Not affection … God’s love is much deeper than
that. Our love toward others is a result
of First .. our loving God. If we are to
love others rightly .. and we are … we must first be right with God. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to Love
God. The next is to love others. So what does that look like? Paul tells us in Romans 12.
(Romans 12:9-21) “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
(Romans 12:9-21) “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
How did you respond the last
time someone did something to you that was unkind, that you didn’t like? Very often we respond to others with our
flesh and feel justified, even smug. After all, they deserve the attitude that we have toward them. God
says “Love them.” How is that working
out for you? Now God did not say become
their best friend, although you might, love is an attitude of the heart and an
action of the will submitted to God. Its
source, for a Christian, is God the Father by the power of the Spirit in
us. Listen .. you can post verses on
Facebook .. smile at everyone on Sunday morning … even write a BLOG … but without
love Paul wrote: (1 Corinthians 13:1)
“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.” Without love you are just breathing
air … making noise … but you are not glorifying God with your life … and that
is your purpose my friend.
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