LOVE I think one of the most difficult subjects to preach about is love. Its not difficult in the same way as it is difficult to talk about the deity of Christ or the Holy Spirit, or Gods choosing us before we were born. Talking about love is difficult because so much has been said about love people have a tendency to put their minds in neutral when it is discussed. They have heard everything they want to hear about love. Love is an important subject to the Christian. When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was he responded with, love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. In Romans 12:9, 10 the apostle Paul writes, Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. In 1 John 4:20-21 notice what John says, If anyone says, I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. In other words, John tells us that the true measure of whether we love God or not is shown in how well we love our brother. Colossians 3:14, And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. LOVE IS THE CHIEF VIRTUE Paul tells us to over all put on love. This is the characteristic by which a Christian should be known above all else. How are you known by others? Are you theologically sound? A good speaker? An active member of the church? An involved member of the community? Maybe people know you for the gifts you have. Maybe you are known as a person with a beautiful voice, or as one who is a talented craftsman, or a person of uncommon wisdom, or one who has experienced Gods power in spectacular ways. But the Lord asks: But do you love? Paul writes to the Corinthians not about marriage, but about their relationship with each other when he writes about love. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1-3) 1 Corinthians 13 Is this how you feel toward others? • I am patient with you because I love you and want to forgive you. • I am kind to you because I love you and want to help you. • I do not envy your possessions or your gifts because I love you and want you to have the best. • I do not boast about my attainments because I love you and want to hear about yours. • I am not proud because I love you and want to esteem you before myself. • I am not rude because I love you and care about your feelings • I am not self-seeking because I love you and want to meet your needs • I am not easily angered by you because I love you and want to overlook your offenses • I do not keep a record of wrongs because I love you , and love covers a multitude of sins.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 12:56:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015