Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1
What has sin done to the human race? Isn’t it sad to think that we know little about love? The Apostle Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit defined love for us. I think it truly sad that this has to be. Even Jesus provided a new commandment, that we love one another. (John 15:9-12) We are told of the unconditional love that Jesus gave and we are told to give love unconditionally, but we struggle over this point in our lives afraid of offending others. (I John 4:18) Why then is love so hard for us to understand and do?
When Adam sinned in the garden, he delivered sin upon all mankind. (Romans 5:12) Since that time man has lost the ability to truly love. When Jesus came to this earth, He came by the LOVE of the Father and obediently showed unconditional love to us. Here is the thing: Love is not martyrdom. Love is giving of oneself beyond words providing life to others. Some of the examples of love taught by Jesus came on the examples provided by sinful man. Simon Peter was praised for rightly saying that Jesus was the Christ. In the same chapter of Matthew 18 he was then called Satan because he said that Jesus would not die. Did Jesus show him love? Absolutely, because love can rebuke without fear of hurting someone. Peter again asked, “How often should I forgive another?” Jesus corrected Peter’s thinking by saying countless times. Once again, real love forbears. Sadly, this is but two examples I give for now, but understand that sin has messed up our thinking on love.
Love is ever applying and ever learning. Take away love from a baby and they will shun being embraced later in life. Tell a woman, “I love you and she may give a man what he wants, but it isn’t loves embrace, it is lust.” Hating someone for what you perceive them to be isn’t love. It’s jealousy. Even the apostles hated John and James for asking position of the Lord. Yet, in the closing hours before going to the cross, Jesus said, “Love one another.” This is a statement of unconditional love. It is love that disciplines. It is love that restores. It is hatred that causes distance. It is love that forgives. It is love that plead with the sinner to believe. It is the love of Christ that removed the scales off the eyes.
Love is powerful. Oh, that we would learn to truly love.
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