Wednesday, May 19, 2010

It All Comes Down to Love

I am sure that most of us are probably very familiar with this passage of Scripture, but today I wanted to introduce it out of "The Message". Hopefully, it will stand out to you in a fresh way and define more clearly the love God calls us to.  


   Love never gives up.
   Love cares more for others than for self.
   Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
   Love doesn't strut,
   Doesn't have a swelled head,
   Doesn't force itself on others,
   Isn't always "me first,"
   Doesn't fly off the handle,
   Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
   Doesn't revel when others grovel,
   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
   Puts up with anything,
   Trusts God always,
   Always looks for the best,
   Never looks back,
   But keeps going to the end.    (from I Corinthians 13)



I know that personally there are a few of these statements about love that I am not living out daily nor truthfully living out in my heart.  Do I really try to "put up with anything"?   Am I pushing forward and "not looking back".   It seems, I struggle the hardest with these things in my marriage and family life.   The people whom I really do love the most don't seem to get these attributes of love shown to them outwardly every day.   


Let's read these words, pray for the Lord to humble us, cleanse our hearts and help us put into action the love the Lord wants us to show to "everyone", yes even when those who are on our very last nerve!  :)     "Lord, I pray that I look deep into the Scriptures for your instruction on how to love people today and Lore, please help me put it into practice.   Amen."