A short time after this incident the boy drowned. Any loving act must be warmly accepted or it will be taken as rejection and can leave a scar. If we are too busy to give and receive love, we are too busy. Nothing is more important than responding with love to the cry for love from those who are near and precious to us. Nothing is more costly than loving—except not loving. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
The death of Jesus, in all of its sacrificial unselfishness, discloses the heights and depths of love. We will know better how to show love when we think of how much Christ loves us, and when we trust Him as our Savior and Lord. No Record Of Wrongs [Love] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.
A couple living in rural Kiowa, Colorado, has called the noise hotline for the new Denver International Airport more than 1, times to complain about jets passing over their home. If we estimate 1 minute for each conversation, 1, phone calls add up to more than 23 hours of complaints! Do I repeatedly point out every mistake people make without thinking what it does to them and to me? Or is it my practice to overlook the offenses of others? First Corinthians gives us a guide for dealing with problems in our relationships.
It all hinges on love. Love is not easily provoked to anger. Anger puts every offense on an endless playback loop, but love turns off the switch. At work, at home, at church, we need to ask the Lord to give us the courage to abandon the playback button and make frequent use of erase. Love is an attitude, love is a prayer, For someone in sorrow, a heart in despair; Love is goodwill for the gain of another, Love suffers long with the fault of a brother.
A third-grade science teacher asked one of her students to describe salt. He tried again. Imagine pizza without cheese, strudel without apples, a banana split without bananas. The Christian life also has an essential element: love. Paul emphasized its value as he wrote his letter to the Corinthians.
A true Christian is known by his love. Doctrinal purity is important. Faith is a magnificent quality, as are actions of obedient service to the Lord. Ask God to help you grow in love until it flows from your heart to others.
Lord, grant me a loving heart, A will to give and share, A whispered prayer upon my lips To show I really care. A woman named Nancy uses verses from 1 Corinthians 13 to help her cope with the frustrations of a busy family life. Nancy gave an example of how she uses her check list.
She was running errands one morning before she and her family were to leave on vacation. Her husband Bill was at home caring for the children and getting things ready for an early afternoon departure. Nancy was angry and said some harsh things to Bill. He said he was sorry too, and they left that afternoon for their vacation—just a little late.
Better yet, consider it before you say them. Lord, fill our hearts with Christlike love, With goodness, kindness, care, Lest bitter thoughts and hurtful words Will find a welcome there. Love Believes All Things [Love] believes all things, hopes all things. It was 40 years ago or more that I observed a friend of mine showing great affection for someone I considered unworthy of love.
I thought my friend was being taken in, and I was afraid he would be disillusioned and saddened in the end. It can see the potential in them. It believes that God can take the most unattractive and unworthy individual and turn that person into a masterpiece of beauty and grace. If love errs, it must err in the way of trustfulness and hopefulness.
Tough love may be the best response to irresponsible and foolish people, but we can be too guarded, too wary and distrustful. Real Love [Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. In the process, my friend has learned that real love is not always easy or convenient.
Behind the memory loss, confusion, and utter helplessness is a beautiful person who loves life and is at complete peace. It is not self-seeking or easily angered. Real love originated with our Father, who gave us the gift of His Son. As we seek to show His love to others, we can follow the example of Christ, who laid down His life for us 1 John It was a beautiful reminder that while our culture glorifies youthful romance, true love has many stages during our journey through life.
When love is tried as loved ones change, Hold still to hope though all seems strange, Till ease returns, and love grows wise Through listening ears and opened eyes. When our commitments are tested in the fires of life, no matter what difficulties we face, may God grant us a greater experience of His enduring love and the grace to demonstrate it each day. Our best efforts—if bereft of love—ring hollow. The smallest loving act can hold eternal significance.
No matter our age or status in life, we all can strive to love others as God loves them. We may accomplish great things in our life—gain fame and fortune—but the greatest thing is to love. For of all that we have done, or ever will do, only love endures. We depart, but love abides.
We love because He first loved us, He gave so we can give; We love because He first touched us, He died so we can live. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.
Poet Ogden Nash seems to have hit on a formula to help us remember how to communicate effectively. Nash, in his witty style, wrote:. First, if we are wrong we need to admit it. Not only marriage, but all relationships benefit from this kind of honesty Prov. Two simple guidelines for a marriage that pleases God: Admit wrong and keep quiet about being right.
Button up your lip securely 'Gainst the words that bring a tear, But be swift with words of comfort, Words of praise, and words of cheer. A mentally impaired man always shook hands with his pastor after each service.
All he does is parrot what he hears others say. They are skilled at finding something wrong with anyone who is actively trying to serve the Lord. And undoubtedly all of us have done some bellyaching. The best cure for this sinful habit is Christian love—something easy to talk about but difficult to practice.
Then, as we depend on the Lord, we must put these attitudes into practice. The next time you feel like finding fault with someone, resist that impulse and look for a way to do good to that person Galatians Do this diligently, and in time you will be cured of your bellyaching.
I would not criticize the one who works, The one who listens to God's Word and heeds; But I would criticize myself, dear Lord, Confess to You my faithless words and deeds. Selfless Love Love suffers long and is kind; love … does not seek its own. So I was less than enthusiastic when my son Dan, about 12 at the time, asked me to take him fishing. We woke up early and got out on the lake just before dawn. Dan was excited, but when 10 long minutes passed without a bite I was already bored.
So I rearranged a few life preservers, got comfortable, and promptly fell asleep. A little while later we returned home, even though the morning was still young. Needless to say, Dan was disappointed—and I felt guilty! Peter, James, and John disappointed Jesus when they fell asleep instead of exerting themselves to pray with Him in His hour of great soul agony.
By our thoughtlessness and selfishness we often wound family members and close friends. I know a man who hurt his wife deeply when he went hunting with some buddies instead of staying home to comfort her after a miscarriage.
Our selfish ways can make us blind So we won't see another's needs; But when God's love is in our hearts, We'll act with kind and selfless deeds. Have you noticed it where you live?
On the highway? At sporting events? During public performances? Have we forgotten how to walk in the shoes of others, considering their rights and needs? First Corinthians 13 includes a quality of biblical love that is often overlooked. At a time when rudeness is on the rise, we need to begin an epidemic of love.
Christ's love is not puffed up, unkind; It gladly will the broken bind; It envies not, is patient still, Delights to do the Father's will. God longs to express His great heart of love for others through us. Will we allow Him to do it? Read: 1 Corinthians Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. But what is love? We think of love as an emotion, a tender feeling, a positive reaction.
So when Scripture commands us to love God and our neighbor, we may be confused about the meaning of love Matthew Feelings simply cannot be commanded. So love must be more than an emotion. Yes, we can respond obediently to what our Savior directs us to do. He knows, though, that we are not capable of doing this on our own. Who knows? We may even begin to like them. His temperament was often overbearing, and he struggled to be kind to the people. Even in suffering, their hearts turned to God.
Perhaps you are like the Inuits in this story, and you are unable to see God in the people around you. Or perhaps you are like Hans Egede, who struggled to express love in a way that taught people about God. Knowing we are weak and needy people, God showed us what love is like.
Jesus is the perfect example of the love that is described in 1 Corinthians As we look to Him, we learn that we are loved and we learn how to love in turn. Jesus, let me find in You a sense that I am loved. And may my heart not grow cold and cluttered by anger and wounds from the past so that others can see Your reflection in me. There Is Love Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Some time ago, I traded e-mail with a friend who was approaching 30 and had no serious love relationship in sight. Better yet, we can learn from the Bible about giving the benefit of the doubt to others. It retains its faith. Love is not deceived … but it is always ready to give the benefit of the doubt. Luke "But woe to you Pharisees!
For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. John but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. John "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.
Romans and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans Let love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love.
Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Romans Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,. Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. Galatians For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Ephesians just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, Ephesians But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, Ephesians so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Ephesians with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Philippians And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; Philippians Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Colossians since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. Live in peace with one another. Titus Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Philemon because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Hebrews For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
Hebrews and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,. Peace be to you all who are in Christ. By this we know that we are in Him: 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. Jude May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
Revelation 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. And Amnon said to her, "Get up, go away! Ecclesiastes For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.
The New Testament references agape over times. To the Greeks, proper agape meant a general empathy or lovingkindness for all people. Though in the Bible, Christians are indeed expected to care for all in the name of Christ, Christianity took this a step further. Biblical writers used God as the standard for true agape. Agape love, in the Bible, is love that comes from God. God loves from an outpouring of who He is.
His love is undeserved, gracious, and sacrificial. We are to love God and others with agape love. God set the standard for agape love in sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners.
As has been noted, the New Testament references agape over times. However, a person can also agape or wholeheartedly love the wrong things.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy , it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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 1 Corinthians Though agape can be accompanied by other types of love, agape is not just a feeling, but a choice. Agape love does not come naturally to us in our sinful state.
Ephesians So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;. Ephesians Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
Ephesians But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
Ephesians Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Philippians And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,. Philippians the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;. Philippians Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,.
Philippians make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;. Philippians Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Colossians since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;. Colossians just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf,.
Colossians For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,. Colossians So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;. Colossians Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Colossians As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.
Colossians and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here. Live in peace with one another. Teach and preach these principles. Titus Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Philemon Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,.
Philemon because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;. Philemon For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Philemon no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. Hebrews But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.
Hebrews For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. James Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
James This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;. James Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? By this we know that we are in Him:.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. He who does not love abides in death.
God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
Jude Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. Jude These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted;.
Jude But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,.
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