1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is
patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does
not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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."
OK, so I'm on a mid-80's song kick... isn't it
strange how some songs just seem to stick :) Actually this song was produced by Foreigner with a
gospel choir in the background. It was actually on a gospel music chart for a
while (I do my research). It was also my
favorite song (right up there with Dust in the Wind - to satisfy my melancholy
states).
Anyway, the song spoke volumes to me. Like me,
I'm sure a lot of you at some point or another - or maybe even now - want to
know what love is. That's is how God made us - with a desire for love... true
love... lasting love. People say, 'Love isn't a feeling'. I say, 'Bull..' OK,
just 'Bull'. It almost makes me angry. Sure, love is action, but it's so much
more.
We can feel sadness. We can feel lonely. We
can feel like nobody cares. We can feel anguish. WE CAN FEEL LOVE.... at least
God's kind of love. That 'agape' (unconditional, no strings attached, 'just
because') kind of love.
Inside of our soul - it's been said there's 'a
God-shaped void' - it's just my opinion, but I think that 'God-shaped void' is
in the shape of the Jesus on the Cross. OK, so I WAS going to write 'in the
shape of a heart'... because that represents love to us. Jesus on the Cross...
now, that REALLY represents Love. Look at Jesus - He was patient with His
disciples always questioning - wondering what His stories meant. Mark 4:1-13
states a parable of sowing seed. Jesus admonishes them and but then goes to to
explain. He was patient. He was kind to all those he healed - especially in
Mark 5:25-34. He didn't envy others - He had everything in His Father. He
didn't boast of Himself or puff Himself up (even when He was being beaten and
questioned before His death in Matthew 27). Instead He showed us what true
humility really is.
He didn't seek His own way - even in
Gethsemane. He wasn't easily angered when some mule and wooden cart cut him off
on the road... OK, there was one time when He saw people using the temple of God
for something unholy - Matthew 21. Side Note: Moneychangers were those who
exchanged foreign money for the half shekel that was to be brought to the
temple.... but they were charging over and above to do this, thus were
'thieves'. He keeps no record of sins we have committed (Psalm 103:12) - throws
them as far as the east is from the west. We need Him on our Olympic disc
throwing team! He doesn't like evil, but He
rejoices when people 'get it' - when the light comes on and we understand the
truth.
Now, in the paragraph above, isn't there several
references to feelings - Love can be a feeling. It can be our experience, if we
let Jesus into that void. Some of us may not have even started to let Him in
there - ask Him to - Romans 5 says,"His Love does not disappoint." Some of us
have let Him in but it's just a trickle here and there. Why not open the 'door'
a little and trust that He is good - John 10:11 - He's the Good Shepherd. Some
of us are a quarter or a third or half or three quarters full - there's still
room for more of His Love. His Love will keep coming until it overflows and we
just HAVE to give it away... and THEN when we've given some away He just gives
us more to overflowing again!
THAT'S where I want to be overflowing with the
Love of God towards myself (yep, heard that right) - that Love needs to flow
into us our lives first - we need to love ourselves first - THEN we can
love those around us with the same love that we've been given (Matthew
22:39).
Today, let's begin or continue to allow the Lord
to fill us up with His Love and all that Love means.... then we will know what
love is.
I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
(Live)
True Love - David Ruis (Live)
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