LOVE

John 3:16 KJV

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

 1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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 do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Cor 13:13

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

As I have grown in my relationship with God, I am amazed at the works He does in me.  I agree with every post I have ever made about conviction, but now I feel God is wanting me to soften my tone a little.  The truth is sometimes harsh, but it is also sometimes very comforting.

As you read today’s verses you realize that LOVE is as much a part, if not more, of the bible than conviction and repentance.  One has to be convicted and repent to be saved, but after that there is Love with God.  I definitely feel my calling is to give the truth so that those who think they are saved, but are not will come to repentance through the power of God.  That being said, I will never put God in a box and only talk about what I think He wants me to.  Instead I am going to pray that I always talk about what He wants me to.

God’s love for us is soo deep that He sent His Son to die an agonizing death so that we would have the chance to accept His saving Grace.  Have you ever thought about whether you could do anything like that.  I can’t imagine giving up a child in order that murderers and rapists and wretched people might have a chance to be saved from their sin.  That’s how much God loves us.

The middle verses talk about basically someone who may do all sorts of things for God, but doesn’t have Love in their heart.  I mean it says if you have the faith to move mountains, but no love then you are nothing.  That’s a big statement.  Verses 4-7 you’ve probably heard.  I want to focus though on where it says Love always hopes.  Isn’t that comforting, that if we have God’s love in our hearts we can always have hope in everything.  That’s where I am today.

The last verse pretty much sums up everything. Of faith, hope, and love; Love is the greatest.

We are to love each other like Jesus loved us.  We won’t be able to love perfectly, but we will know that love is there in our heart and it will help us to deal with ourselves and others.  We should strive every day to just love people.  Lost people should see a love in us that is unexplainable, not  see us as rule followers and judges.

Father, guide me in the path of love.  Teach me to show love to everyone the way that would be pleasing to You.  Father, I am soo thankful for your grace and Your corrections in my life.  Thank you for allowing me to journey with You at my side.  Thank you soo much for the saving sacrifice of Your son Jesus.  Please help me to think of His sacrifice in love when I am tempted to be judgemental to others.