Tuesday, April 22, 2014

This is love.


No man has greater love than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

This is love.  This is the ultimate expression of love.  i don't want hear about your needs.  i don't want to think about my needs.  #&^! rights.  Rights don't enter into love.  You want rights?  You don't want love.

Love is patient.  It waits years for the sinner to repent.

Love is kind.  It does not snuff out the smoldering wick or break the bent reed.

It does not envy or boast.  It knows what is its own.  Its tongue is full of the praises of the Lord.

It does not become conceited.  Instead it humbles itself to death, even death on a cross.

It does not behave dishonorably.  It brings honor to the Father and bestows honor on its beloved.

It is not selfish.  It lowers itself from the throne of heaven where it had everything and becomes a servant of its enemies.

It does not become angry.  Unless, you know, you trash his Father's house and allow a bunch of robbers in to do business.  But generally speaking, see patience.

It does not keep a record of wrongs.  Cuz you know that thing you did four years ago!  You know what you said?  Neither does love.

It does not rejoice at unrighteousness.  Cuz unrighteousness isn't loving.

But rejoices with the truth.  Cuz it is truth.

Love bears all things.  Up to and including the sins of the entire world, past, present and future.

Love believes all things.  I don't think that means it's gullible.  See truth.

Love hopes all things.  Cuz it knows where its hope lies.  Or better yet, in Whom its hope lies.

Endures all things.  See patience, anger, record of wrongs, bears, believes, hopes...

Love never ends.  Cuz he's eternal!  From before the beginning and beyond the end.  Never ending, always.  I AM that I AM.  The One Who Is.

So, simple, go do all this!

Nah, just kidding.  You can't.  i've tried.  Not to say i'm the standard or anything, i'm sure there are those of you who will get much closer before failing than i did.  But here's the thing.  You can't.  You can't do it.  None of us can.  Only he who is love can love.  But here's the better thing.  He has promised to live in anyone who trusts in him and his love alone.  Abide in him and he will abide in you.  Then you'll at least have the true love in you and who knows, perhaps that'll peek out every now and then?


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