LOVE

Love. It's more than just a word to describe an emotion that we have as human beings. Love is also an action word. We can prove to someone if we love them or not by things we choose to do (or not do) for them. The KJV Bible says in 1 John 3:18, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." We are to show our love for others by the things we do, not just with the words we say.

What does love in action look like? Let's look at 1 Corinthians 13. It says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” I heard someone say one time to put your name in the place of the word "love" in 1 Corinthians 13. It would read like this, "Amber is patient, Amber is kind, etc." That is a big challenge to live up to. Love is not a proud, boastful, self-centered person. One who shows love is meek, humble, and a servant of others. It doesn't hold grudges or repay evil for evil. Love forgives and does not get angry easily. Love is very powerful.

1 Peter 4:8 says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." When true love is on display, we can overlook one another's faults. We should be able to love everyone, even those who do not agree with our personal beliefs or views of scripture. When we are fighting with others or looking down on them because they do not agree with us scripturally, what is gained? Are souls being saved? Are saints being edified? We need to show more love of God to everyone so that they can be drawn to Christ by our actions.

Jesus summed up the whole law in two commandments in Matthew 22:36-40 KJV, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

So what is our mission in life? Love God and love people. Simple, yet so hard to do at times.

Jesus even went so far as to say that we should love our enemies too.

Jesus knew that we couldn't do these things on our own. That is why He made a way for our sins to be forgiven and for the Holy Spirit to come and dwell in our hearts. In this way, it is God Himself living and loving others thru us. It's wonderful to have such a loving Savior looking after us and making a way for us to overcome our own selves.

LOVE! Accept it and give it away freely!