November 2, 2011
1 Corinthians 13:3b But I gain nothing if I do not have love.
Deep down on many levels, I was always afraid to love because I didn’t trust. As I’ve come to know the everlasting and limitless love of Jesus Christ, I have to make changes to the way I love. I still find myself falling into the old habits of judging, hedging and hesitating because I may be hurt or disappointed.
When I do not love unconditionally, I shut out the gifts God wants to give others through me and vice versa. I’ve come to realize that I am selfish when I don’t love. I don’t have to like those I love, but something amazing happens when you love people you really don’t like. They become “like-candidates” because you realize that God wired them, so they must have a purpose -- even if you can’t figure out what it might be. J
And that’s fine. In essence, loving God means loving others.
Love because God loves you.
If God made us and asks us to love, why don’t we try it? Why not consider God first and not think of ourselves? As the Scripture in Corinthians notes, we can have spiritual gifts that are worth nothing if we don’t have love. Not loving makes us bitter people. Not loving makes us miserable and judgmental. It’s hard to live a fulfilling life when we don’t have love to share with others.
Love is the Greatest Gift.
1 Corinthians 13:3b But I gain nothing if I do not have love.
Deep down on many levels, I was always afraid to love because I didn’t trust. As I’ve come to know the everlasting and limitless love of Jesus Christ, I have to make changes to the way I love. I still find myself falling into the old habits of judging, hedging and hesitating because I may be hurt or disappointed.
When I do not love unconditionally, I shut out the gifts God wants to give others through me and vice versa. I’ve come to realize that I am selfish when I don’t love. I don’t have to like those I love, but something amazing happens when you love people you really don’t like. They become “like-candidates” because you realize that God wired them, so they must have a purpose -- even if you can’t figure out what it might be. J
And that’s fine. In essence, loving God means loving others.
Love because God loves you.
If God made us and asks us to love, why don’t we try it? Why not consider God first and not think of ourselves? As the Scripture in Corinthians notes, we can have spiritual gifts that are worth nothing if we don’t have love. Not loving makes us bitter people. Not loving makes us miserable and judgmental. It’s hard to live a fulfilling life when we don’t have love to share with others.
Love is the Greatest Gift.
Making changes to the way we love others is never an easy thing. I too continue to fall into the judging others pit and have to keep telling myself I need to see and love others the way Jesus does. And your right when you do this something amazing does happen. Thanks for the great posts.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!