Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
As Christians, we have been called to spread a message of love – to tell others of the love of a Father, our Heavenly Father, for His children (the whole world). Sometimes, we forget this love that lifted us, this love that is so patient with us, this love that chose to sacrifice what was most precious to Him because He saw value and worth in His creation, in us, even though we’re filthy - our lack of love is demonstrated in our actions...
“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on LOVE, which binds them all together in perfect unity” – Colossians 3:12-14
We live in a world today where it is difficult to spot love, sometimes even in the church. We should always be conscious that we act in love in every situation. So,
To those who grow impatient when dealing with those who are slow learners, or who irritate you, or who require that you sacrifice your time to listen to them to those who often choose "hurried conversations over a listening heart" because you just don’t have the patience to listen to othersAGAIN, be patient
…..Love is patient
To those who look on in disgust at persons who may not be as well of as you are – “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing…..” - Prov. 28:27
To those who are quick to cast judgement on people, know this: “mercy triumphs over judgement” (James 2:13),
To those who speak ill of others (including your best friends and leaders), evil words are not KIND, FULLY clothe yourself with kindness for
…. Love is kind
To those who look at others with their material riches and wished they had it, you are already rich, richer than a vast majority of persons in the world,
To those who are look at others with their spiritual gifts and wish they had that gifting and work towards having that gifting and neglect their own spiritual gifting,
to those who see others achieving success by the world’s standards and wonder why as a Christian you don’t have that kind of success, understand that God’s plan for your life is UNIQUE to you and in the same way, God’s plan for another person’s life is UNIQUE to them. At the end of the day, God’s plan is being fulfilled once YOU are obedient to Him, there is no need to be jealous
…. Love does not envy
To those who speak highly of themselves and their accomplishments in the midst of others so that others may think highly of you,
to those who believe that because they are at a “higher spiritual level” or in a better relationship with God than others, that it makes them better, be careful if you think you stand, lest you fall
…. Love does not boast
To those who cannot speak to or associate with or scorn those of a lower social status or of a different complexion or of a different race because you are a “higher quality breed of man or woman”
…… Love is not proud
To those who are disrespectful to different cultures and beliefs, to those who throw insults and harsh words at others when they are in a disagreement
….. Love is not rude
To those who are only concerned with their physical appearance, to elders who spend a lot of time and money seeking to look young, to those who are concerned with their own affairs AND are not mindful of others, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18
to those who fail to remember their Pastor, church members, the poor, the unreached and the persecuted Christians in their prayer,
to those who find it difficult to give to build the kingdom of God or to fight for injustices in the world,
to those who chose not to mentor another person or provide guidance to or show an interest in new Christians, we ought to be concerned about others and care for them, love others as Christ has loved us …. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” – 1 John 3:16
...... Love is not self-seeking
To those of you who have a bad temper which causes you to be slow to listen and really quick to speak or act
…… Love is not easily angered
To those of you who have a “earthly gifting” for remembering all the bad things people have done to you and those who you love,
to those of you, especially women, who, out of spite and vengeance, are great at reminding persons of their horrible past and all the mistakes they have made and fail to tell them how much they have grown and developed as a Christian
to those who hold people (those who have hurt you and even those who have not) in mind and therefore host unforgiveness in your life,
….. Love keeps no record of wrong
To double standard Christians, I was there… It’s easy to be a "saint" in church and an "angel" to your parents and at the same time be the most disobedient “Christian” in school where no one can see you (except God of course – but you take it for granted that He loves you and will forgive you when you pray at nights),
to those who blatantly and consciously disobey the Word of God,
to those who work and perform an unfair day’s job,
Anything that is not in obedience to God is evil and
…. Love does not delight in evil but love rejoices in the truth.
When we act in love, love shelters and covers us, just as God does for us. “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.” – Proverbs 10:12, Love shelters those of us who are consciously trying to live a life pleasing to God from condemnation.
Love ALWAYS PROTECTS!
When we act in love, without much evidence to prove guilt, we are willing to give persons the benefit of the doubt. Love does not assume the worst.
Love ALWAYS TRUSTS!
When we act in love, we can see endless possibilities in the midst of an impossible situation. We see no darkness or failure…. Only light and success.
Love ALWAYS HOPES!
When we act in love, we will endure to the end. Love will never quit, never give up, never stop, never dwell on the past but look forward to a great future with Christ. Love is awesome!
Love ALWAYS PERSEVERES!
As Christians, when the hopeless, helpless, friendless etc come to us, we say “Jesus is the answer!”.
Jesus is God.
“God is the answer”
God is love.
So “Love is the answer!” .... it's the answer to almost ALL, if not ALL, our problems and issues. It is the answer to removing segregations in the church, the answer to overcoming generation gaps, the answer to achieving UNITY.... Love will make us ONE!
Finally, so many of us, leaders in particular, desire to see a lot of growth in the church … After all, through Christ, so much of ourselves have been poured into the work of the kingdom of God. At times, it seems to be to no avail.
Continue to press on! We know that what we sow, that we will reap. Let us sow love and therefore, we can be confident of this: Even if those who we have been led to mentor do not show signs of growth now, the seed of love that we passionately sow and water, will produce fruits of love in the (near or distant) future! Sow love!
While thinking of this, a friend reminded me of this scripture (For further inspiration):
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
May God bless you all richly! I love you all :)
Leigh
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