Drops of Hope
Small Truths, Big Impact
What is Love?
Love is NOT butterflies in your stomach when you see that girl/guy. It's not just words we say to each other! It's not even really an emotion we feel towards someone! Pastor Teacher John MacArthur said it best, he called true love a "useful deed". When we look at the Bible's explanation of true love it says it like this: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13 : 4-7 (New Living Translation) Love is Patient: for true love to take hold this part is paramount! This is why it is first, without patients, none of the other attributes are achievable! Love is Kind: True love in all of its essence is kindness! Also, this is when it's most effective! Kindness does not mean weak, because love does mean doing the hard stuff too. Love is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude: These things are all telling us what love is NOT! Basically, true love is not thinking of itself first! Its own needs or wants come after the needs and/or wants of the other. Love does NOT demand it's own way: this is a hard one for most. Because our natural desire is to have our needs met, and if it's not happening we often turn toward demanding it in some way. This is why we fight in most of our friendship, family, and romantic, relationships because someone is demanding their way as opposed to the way things are going and they don't like it. Love is not irritable: this again goes back to the first thing, "patients". If we have done all of the things we have talked about, then there is no way we could be irritable. If we are, then we are lacking somewhere in the things we already looked at. Love keeps no records of wrongs: this one is huge! If you truly love someone, there is no score sheet! Let me say it again, there is no score sheet! True love does not save a record for later use, it does not need to use things of the past to try and hurt someone now or in the future. Love rejoices in the truth: even when someone may be at fault, true love wants the truth to win. This may be hard for us to swallow, but even when it means it my hurt or effect our loved one(s), true love rejoices when the truth is revealed, and not to hide behind injustices or lies to keep you or them "safe". Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance: this last part is self-explanatory, true love will endure any storm! True love is a "useful deed", it is a choice, a big commitment, but a choice! And if you choose and commit to Love, you have given the greatest gift of all..... Be Blessed, Comments are closed.
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AuthorPhil Fox founder of Drops of Hope Ministries desire is to help people grow, strengthen, and deepen their relationship with God. Archives
July 2019
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