Chapter 3 :
love
The greatest of all, the fruit of a great single life
Part Nine
A quick look at a definition of unconditional love
This love is what 1 Cor 13 is all about. God loves us unconditionally, and by His Spirit works through us to love the same.
1 Cor 13:4-8 gives us an overview of unconditional love.
1 Cor 13:4 – love is PATIENT. We can wait, with joy (because of love) for God to give us a spouse. Our joy is in God, so there is no rush. We can truly be patient and content with where we are. Not only that, but if God does bring a partner to be us we can be patient with them too. After all, they no longer are our source of need – God is.
1 Cor 13:4 – love is KIND. We treat our brothers and sisters in kindness, and not because we need or want anything from them.
1 Cor 13:4 – It does not ENVY. Jealousy is no longer an issue, for we do not envy what is not ours to have. If God has called someone else to love the person we may have had an interest in, it is God’s love and power working through and in us which will cause us not to envy and get jealous, and get bitter and never move on with our lives. God then can give us patience, and joy in all that. Plus, we will be glad for our brother and sister that God has brought them together.
1 Cor 13:4 – It does not boast, it is not proud. Pride is really an issue when it comes to relationships – but with God, if we are rejected our pride is not effected. We boast in the cross and in the Lord only (2 Cor 10:16 and Gal 6:14). We do not need others to make us feel good.
1 Cor 13:5 – It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Praise God, by His Spirit we can love all like this! We do not love for selfish reasons (we are not self-seeking). We are not easily angered when rejected or when someone tries to hurt us. We don’t even keep a record of the wrongs people might have done to us! Instead, we love them.
1 Cor 13:6 – Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Our Christianity is ignited with rejoicing as we discover the truth of God’s love.
1 Cor 13:7 – It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. This really speaks for itself. Even after having our heart broken, God sets us free to still trust. We don’t have to build a wall around our heart and never trust anyone with it again. For our heart is ultimately found in God.
1 Cor 13:8 – love NEVER fails. For in all circumstances, love exposes truth and causes rejoicing. It never fails. Love baffles the world, and causes it to come to repentance. Love baffles us, and causes us to humble ourselves before our awesome God and come to repentance, and come to savor and enjoy Him. It causes us to live fruitful, joyful, glad lives even in the midst of suffering. It is a weapon against our enemy. It is the fruit of the Spirit. It is the very thing that will conquer our bitterness, jealousy and everything that is causing us to live sad and miserable lives. God has truly answered our prayers and saved us from sin – filling us with His love and overflowing joy. God is truly glorious!
1 Comment
July 6, 2009 at 11:53 am
Finding Love that lasts:
http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2007/02/28/finding-love-that-lasts-a-lifetime/