First Corinthians 13: 4-7 (NLT)
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
I love coffee. I love pizza. I love the mountains. I love the ocean. I love my cat. I love God.
What’s the distinction? Seems like the world defines love as a feeling sometimes, the feeling of satisfaction or lack of.. The truth of the matter is that sometimes feelings are there and sometimes they’re not. They’re fickle & inconsistent and many times depend on circumstance or just eating a bad burrito. Now it’s ok if we’re talking about feelings towards food & cats, but what happens when that feeling of love that was once there for someone like your spouse, is no longer there?
I’ve heard divorced couples say that they divorced because they fell out of love. They fell into love and got married, and when that feeling of love left, they split because the basis of their marriage was built on a feeling. As a parent, I can say I love my girls very, very much. So much. I feel so mushy inside when they throw their arms around my neck for a hug or plop their slobbery mouth on me for a kiss. But you know, there are those brief moments when the day gets hectic and momma is way overdue for a snack. Where I get a bit hangry and a bit irritated. Sometimes that feeling of affection is not there. Doesn’t make sense to equate love as a feeling though. Sure, there may be arguments or disagreements, there may be frustrations or hanger, but what if we start to love as a commitment, as a choice? Would anything change? Well, we might BE more patient, BE more kind. We might BE less rude, or less irritable. We could CHOOSE to rejoice in the truth, DECIDE not to give up or lose hope. What would happen here is we would see love as taking ACTION. It takes a decision to make an action, and with action comes purpose, and purpose is a powerful thing.
If we want to prove to the world that our God is real, we need to learn how to love the way Christ loves us. The way He loved us before we were lovable. The Bible is clear. If we can carry each other’s burdens, and love like we have been loved, that’s where the power is – that’s the breakthrough we need to win souls for eternity!
“How are you today?” “How can I help with what you’re struggling with?” That’s what this love walk is about. It’s ultimately allowing God’s love to seep through us for those who are hurting, who are lonely, who need someone to show them that they are in fact, loved. No matter if we feel like it that day or not. This awesome command of love, let’s put it into action today.
I love the simplicity of this. These are answers from my 5-year-old daughter:
What is love?
Love is when you love somebody and they are in love with you too.
What does love look like?
Love is when someone likes me.
How can someone show you love?
By giving me the heart they have. Because God gives you the heart to love.
First Corinthians 12:31
And I will show you a still more excellent way
Love is the most excellent way. Without love, there is no purpose, because without love we are nothing (1 Corinth 13:3). To be made in the image of the One who is Love, let’s choose & commit to love well.
