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Sunday, January 8, 2012

The Excellence of Love

This week I was blessed to see some pictures from an old friend who got married. What a wonderful thing for her and her new husband (who I sincerely hope knows what a jewel he has!) and how exciting to see updates this week from their trip to Hawaii.
Her marriage got me thinking, and I turned to the timeless passage that speaks about love in the way that we are supposed to love each other, especially within a marriage.  Maybe you hope to be married someday. Maybe you are perfectly happy being single and have no thoughts of getting married. Either way, God has a plan for your life and a way to use you where you are.
What is the difference between love and lust? Lust is selfish, inwardly directed and is a natural human nature response. Yes, it is human nature to be filled with lust. However, God can overcome that. God’s love is the kind of love that transcends anything we’ve ever experienced and if we allow it, His kind of love can change our lives. Not just in the ‘washed in the blood, saved from eternal damnation’ way. God’s love can heal. God’s love can break down walls. God’s love can open hearts. God’s love can mend broken relationships. God’s love can show us how to truly love one another, through any type of relationship – marriage AND friendships. Include family in that too please.
Verse 8 says ‘love never fails.’ This is true. You say “Wait! What about all of these broken relationships I see all around me?”  If people allow a relationship to fail, even one within a ‘Christian’ home, then my opinion is they have not relied on God’s love to transform their relationship and their lives.  Verse 8 says LOVE is above everything.. gifts of prophecy, knowledge, speaking in tongues. This means love can conquer anything.
*****This does NOT count the relationships that have failed when one person walks away and the other is willing to work it out. Please do not misunderstand me on that. I know of several people who gave everything – and still are – to make the relationship work and one person in the relationship hardened their heart and walked away.*****
The final verse in chapter 13 says ‘But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.’

Abide in love. Love one another. All we need is love (okay, sorry, couldn’t resist that one).

God’s love is all we need. Through God’s love, working in our hearts, we can soften our own and learn to love the unlovable. It is my lesson too.

Sidenote - You are singing the Beatles now, aren't you?




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