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How
the Body Works
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Equipping
the Saints How the Body Works - Unity in Diversity How the Body Works - A Look at the Gifts How the Body Works - Love is the Best |
Love Endures (vs.8-13)
Love
does not delight in evil. Romans 1:32 speaks of those who not only consent to evil practices, but give them hearty approval. God hates evil and so should we. Love
rejoices with the truth. Truth rings a bell that sounds so refreshing, especially when evil and lies have been present for a long time. When people come to church or to a care group, they want authenticity. The Word of the Lord is truth. One who loves will love the Word of the Lord. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." Without Jesus there is no way, no truth, and no life. When the truth of the Lord is heard and received it fulfills what has been lacking in the heart of hearts. When one has been walking around in the dry barren wastelands of the world for a long time, there is nothing that will quench the thirst better than a long drink from the Word of the Lord. Love
always protects. Advocate is a good biblical word that we don't hear very often. Moses was an advocate. The Lord had had enough of the children of Israel and had decided that they were not going in to the Promised Land. Moses said, "If they are not going in, neither am I." It is very easy to shrug people off who run into tough consequences for their own actions. When we love someone we will stick with them no matter what. If someone we love is rejected we will protect them and not leave them dangling by themselves. We will put an arm around them and say, if you reject my brother, you reject me as well. When we reject someone, we allow them to become prey for whatever is waiting for them. Love protects and looks out for external dangers. Love
always trusts. There is a song that was recorded by Michael and Stormy Omartian that said, "I'm believing for the best in you. You've got Jesus in your heart, and you Love Him so. That's all I need to know…all I need to know. I'm believing for the best in you." For many who have been burned in the past, this is a supernatural quality that is very difficult. We must learn to trust our brothers and sisters. Everyone is not against us. I am all for you! God is all for you! He is at work in our hearts. I trust you because I trust Jesus in you. Love
always hopes. Love does not give up. Love never gives up. What appears hopeless to someone else will not appear hopeless to one who loves. What God has started, He will accomplish.
Love
always perseveres. In Philippians 3, Paul says that we need to forget what is behind and reach out to what is ahead. We need to always press on. Love presses on, no matter what. In 1 Corinthians 4 Paul talks about being hard pressed on every side but not crushed. Hebrews 12:1-2 talks about putting down the things that hinder and running the race with endurance. Love presses on always. We might get shaken and even hurt, but if we love, we press on. 1 John 5:7 states that "God IS Love". Since all these qualities are true of what Love is, does that not tell us a great deal about the quality and character of God? For so long the Lord has been perceived as being a cosmic ogre with sadistic intent. God is not mad at us. He loves us. God is not waiting with sneering glee for us to finally make it into eternity so that he can flick us off into oblivion. It is truly a shame that the Lord has been given this kind of misrepresentation. Think of what we can learn of Him by ridding ourselves once and for all of the flawed worldview that God is full of judgment and hatred. Yes He is judge, and He will judge. But He is Love.
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