I am blessed to have an amazing friend in LaVondilyn Watson. She exudes wisdom and faith, not from watching it on television, but from living life. I am honored that she allows me to share her wisdom.
Are you sure it's love?
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. (1Cor 13:2)
Powerful, isn't it? If we have not love, we are nothing. In the grand scheme of things, it really is true: LOVE is all that matters.
If that's the case, it's imperative that we are able to recognize love...and give it. Because feelings by any other name is just not the same - not "like", not infatuation, not lust, not desire, not admiration, not adoration...none of it is the same as love.
So what is love?
Love is patient. If we truly love someone, then we learn to be patient with them. Remember, the Bible tells us that the testing of your faith produces patience. Sometimes those we love test our faith! But if we are in Christ, then we should show forth the fruit of the Spirit - and one of those fruit is patience. Love waits for change and transformation. Love doesn't push, force or coerce. It's not volatile and it doesn't over-react. It waits...
Love is kind. It's friendly and considerate. When we love, we, like Jesus, "esteem others as better than ourselves".(Phil2:3) We go out of our way to meet their needs and concern ourselves with their well-being. Kindness is also a fruit of the Spirit - it should flow from us naturally if we are filled with the Spirit of God!
Love celebrates. It doesn't envy. When we love, we should celebrate the successes, gifts, blessings of others. We should be supportive and congratulatory - always looking for reasons to uplift and encourage. When we love, we understand that we each have been given gifts and is blessed in our own way - and each of us is valuable to God and to the Body of Christ! There is no need for envy because God doesn't have favorites. He loves us all and gives freely to us all!
Are you sure it's love?
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. (1Cor 13:2)
Powerful, isn't it? If we have not love, we are nothing. In the grand scheme of things, it really is true: LOVE is all that matters.
If that's the case, it's imperative that we are able to recognize love...and give it. Because feelings by any other name is just not the same - not "like", not infatuation, not lust, not desire, not admiration, not adoration...none of it is the same as love.
So what is love?
Love is patient. If we truly love someone, then we learn to be patient with them. Remember, the Bible tells us that the testing of your faith produces patience. Sometimes those we love test our faith! But if we are in Christ, then we should show forth the fruit of the Spirit - and one of those fruit is patience. Love waits for change and transformation. Love doesn't push, force or coerce. It's not volatile and it doesn't over-react. It waits...
Love is kind. It's friendly and considerate. When we love, we, like Jesus, "esteem others as better than ourselves".(Phil2:3) We go out of our way to meet their needs and concern ourselves with their well-being. Kindness is also a fruit of the Spirit - it should flow from us naturally if we are filled with the Spirit of God!
Love celebrates. It doesn't envy. When we love, we should celebrate the successes, gifts, blessings of others. We should be supportive and congratulatory - always looking for reasons to uplift and encourage. When we love, we understand that we each have been given gifts and is blessed in our own way - and each of us is valuable to God and to the Body of Christ! There is no need for envy because God doesn't have favorites. He loves us all and gives freely to us all!
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