I've heard it my whole life, "God is love" "Love others" "No greater love has anyone than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." I know it... You can't hear it that many times and not know it.
But sometimes things that you know in your mind have to be taught so that you really know them in your heart.
'Let all that you do be done in love.'
~1 Corinthians 16:14
All that you do...
How is it that we can so easily be distracted and forget the things we know? They might not be bad things that occupy our attention; for example: school, work, even a missions trip.Yet they can still distract us- (at least they can distract me) from my purpose right where I am, right now- to love with the love of Christ.
'By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.' ~John 13:35
My life without the love of Christ is useless.
'If I speak in tongues of men or of angels, but do not have 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 faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.'
~1 Corinthians 13:1-3
So often I want my rights, and if anyone interferes with them...
If someone hurts my feelings...
If someone is purposely trying to annoy me...
If someone doesn't treat me the way I wanted to be treated...
...I can be jealous, angry, impatient, prideful.
'Then Jesus said, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do."' ~Luke 23:34a
Our Savior cries out on behalf of His executioners as He is bearing the wrath of God that should have been mine.... That kind of love is incomprehensible. The purest example of humility welcomes us ungrudging and patiently with open arms and loves us even after our sin, including my lack of love- nailed Him to the cross and held Him there- naked and exposed to the wrath of a holy God; even after we have rejected Him time and time again He still loves us.
This is the love that He calls us to have for others.
This is the love that He calls us to have for others.
'"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you all this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."'
~John 15:9-12
"This is my command: Love each other." ~John 15:17
'Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."'
~Matthew 22:37-40
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