I remember one such that I clipped, "Love is...never having to say you're sorry". I probably still have that yellowed, tattered piece of newspaper in a box somewhere in the attic!!
When we think about "LOVE" we often think that we should express our love to another with deeds of kindness or gifts, even gifts of time. I actually have a little cross I received at a ladies conference as a momento from the keynote speaker that says LOVE DOES and I certainly don't want to discount that in order for people to know we love them, we have to express it. But what if we expressed it by what we did not do...
"...love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful,
it does not rejoice in wrongdoing..."
it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful,
it does not rejoice in wrongdoing..."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
ENVY...always being content with our lot in life
RUDE?
As I read the words IRRITABLE and RESENTFUL I was struck by the fact that I am often irritated by one thing or another and frequently I am confronted with the fact that I resent having to do this or that and if we're going to be brutally honest here I do like for things to be done my way...control is something else God has been working out of my life over the past few years...I'm a control freak in recovery! ;o)
One of the AMAZING things about having a relationship with Jesus is that when the Spirit of Truth reveals these things to your heart and you ask Him to help you recognize when you're doing it...HE WILL! In fact, the morning I read these words and asked to be reminded, He reminded me all right. About an hour later I found myself in a situation at work becoming increasingly IRRITATED and immediately the thought came..."you're doing it". WOW!! I was rebuked, and awed by the answer to my prayer, and the subsequent flow of grace that came and enabled me to continue my work with a different attitude.
I don't know about you, but I want the people I come into contact with to know I love them...whether it's my family, my friends, my co-workers or someone I hardly know at all who God sovereignly appoints to come across my path on any given day!
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another"
John 13:34-35
"Pursue love..."
1 Corinthians 14...the very first words!
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