I'm sure you're all surprised about my post title, right? :) Love has been on my mind a lot lately thanks to God's amazing purpose in bringing Dylan and I together. We have been memorizing 1 Corinthians 13 and while memorizing I've been thinking a good deal about what true love is. I would like to share with you some of the things the Lord has been showing me.
True love is...
...A Sacrifice.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Love is a sacrifice as Christ demonstrated for us. Love requires us to think higher of the other person and to humble ourselves. This is not easy. Jesus told us to "love our neighbor as ourselves" (Matthew 22:39). Have you ever stopped to think how much we love ourselves? We make sure we're comfortable, full, and at ease. Do I treat others as good, if not better then I treat myself? I don't think so...I need to work on that.
...A Decision.
"bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a
Love is not how you feel at that moment...it is a choice. Guess what guys, I'm marrying a sinner and so is he! :) There will be times when we don't feel like loving each other, but we will have to take that thought captive and choose to love because Jesus says to.
...A Joy!
"For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother." Philemon 7
Have you ever noticed that right after love in the list of the fruits of the Spirit is joy? Love is supposed to be joyous, not a drag or because I have to. When we truly love like Jesus teaches we will be full of joy!
...A Perfect Picture of Christ.
"Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:24
The marriage relationship was designed for many reasons but one of the main ones is to portray Christ's love and affection for His Body, the church. What a responsibility! How I love my husband and the people around me is how people will see God's love...through me! Wow!
...A Pursuit.
"Pursue love..." 1 Corinthians 14:1a
"But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:11
Practice makes perfect :)! I need to pursue love...it does not come naturally to the flesh. The Lord has been teaching me yet again that my actions flow from my thoughts. If I pursue love in my thought life then I will demonstrate it in my actions and words. That's hard to remember all the time :)!
Finally, a verse from my section of Scripture for the year:
"But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." Colossians 3:14
Perfect love and everything else will fall in place.
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah :)
True love is...
...A Sacrifice.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Love is a sacrifice as Christ demonstrated for us. Love requires us to think higher of the other person and to humble ourselves. This is not easy. Jesus told us to "love our neighbor as ourselves" (Matthew 22:39). Have you ever stopped to think how much we love ourselves? We make sure we're comfortable, full, and at ease. Do I treat others as good, if not better then I treat myself? I don't think so...I need to work on that.
...A Decision.
"bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:7-8a
Love is not how you feel at that moment...it is a choice. Guess what guys, I'm marrying a sinner and so is he! :) There will be times when we don't feel like loving each other, but we will have to take that thought captive and choose to love because Jesus says to.
...A Joy!
"For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother." Philemon 7
Have you ever noticed that right after love in the list of the fruits of the Spirit is joy? Love is supposed to be joyous, not a drag or because I have to. When we truly love like Jesus teaches we will be full of joy!
...A Perfect Picture of Christ.
"Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." Ephesians 5:24
The marriage relationship was designed for many reasons but one of the main ones is to portray Christ's love and affection for His Body, the church. What a responsibility! How I love my husband and the people around me is how people will see God's love...through me! Wow!
...A Pursuit.
"Pursue love..." 1 Corinthians 14:1a
"But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:11
Practice makes perfect :)! I need to pursue love...it does not come naturally to the flesh. The Lord has been teaching me yet again that my actions flow from my thoughts. If I pursue love in my thought life then I will demonstrate it in my actions and words. That's hard to remember all the time :)!
Finally, a verse from my section of Scripture for the year:
"But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." Colossians 3:14
Perfect love and everything else will fall in place.
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah :)
