Good morning,
This week we will look at love from God’s perspective.
Valentine’s day promotes the love between couples. It is relational and centered on the world’s system of love. Sometimes physical, sexual, and immoral. Gifts, flowers, candy, are all given to the one we love.
God’s love is different.
God is love. He demonstrates His love. He gives His love. He shows us examples of love. He explains that His love is opened to all. He defines love.
Join us this week as we explore the God of love.
Definition of God’s Love
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: (1Corinthians 13:4-8a)
The following is a description of agape love, also called “charity” in the New Testament (1 Cor. 13). This paraphrase is based upon research of the Greek and English words and their meanings in 1 Cor. 13:4-8.
LOVE DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY. God’s love does not act, react, function, or perform in a manner which is in bad taste, improper, or in violation of what is right.
LOVE SEEKETH NOT HER OWN. God’s love does not demand its own way.
LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED. God’s love is not easily annoyed or incited to anger or resentment.
LOVE THINKETH NO EVIL. God’s love does not reason about or reflect upon that which causes or constitutes misfortune, suffering, difficulty, or the like. God’s love does not ponder upon wickedness.
LOVE REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY. God’s love feels joyful when right, sincerity, integrity, honesty, and truth prevail.
Today’s culture has twisted the word “love” and made it mean the opposite of God’s meaning. Their meaning is negative, while God’s is positive.
Our papers are full of people who behave wickedly in the name of love. In many marriages, one of the spouses demands their own way. Many times this results in some kind of evil.
In contrast, God’s love always act uprightly. It never demands. Is not annoyed or provoked. Is always thinking the best of an individual. Always lives righteously.
Is this the lifestyle we strive to obtain? We will never be as loving as these definitions, but it should be our desire to try and fulfill them.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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