Good Morning Dear Readers,
Today marks the last Wednesday in May. Likewise, today will be my last weekly message for a while. During this hiatus, let’s do some “housecleaning”… If you do not read these weekly emails and/ or wish to remove yourself from the email list, simply let me know and I will do so. On the flipside, if you know someone who wants to get future messages, let me know and I will add them.
Starting back in late January, we’ve taken a look at true love as defined in the Bible. For review, let me put forth the scripture covered since then…
1st Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV)
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Can you now see how love is so much more than an emotion and a feeling? True love transcends emotions and feelings… and even circumstances. The apostle Paul concurred about this love that comes from above…
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What a magnificent thing God’s love is! It is any wonder Satan degrades and cheapens love to a self-centered animalistic impulse? True love draws people to the Lord, and the world system by Satan’s design obscures it by defining it as something else. Arrgg!
Nevertheless…
1st Corinthians 13:8a
Love never fails.
Friends, “never” is a rather dogmatic word, wouldn’t you say? And it is true, for God is true. And if God is true, then what He says is true 😉 You can place all your everything on to this truth.
And when you finally come to Christ as a poor, wretched, and ungodly beggar, casting yourself before Him and His mercy in complete and total surrender… He will gather you into His divine love! His love for you and to you is everlasting! It cannot end, because love never fails! How utterly senseless would it be to reject Almighty God’s lovingkindness.
To those of you who have God’s love poured into your hearts (Romans 5:5), let nothing hinder you from manifesting that love to those around you. Why do you suppose we’re still left on earth? Ha!
Our love demonstrated toward others is a primary way we breach hardened hearts. It is not that we have a hidden agenda, but that our very nature (regenerated) is to love others.
1st John 4:19
We love because He loved us first.
Well, it has been a privilege and delight to share my thoughts with you all. Please continue to read your Bible… everyday if possible! With love, I conclude for now, but keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
**Comments/ questions/ testimonies/ objections most encouraged!
Dear Lord, thank you for this time to consider Your word and Your ways. May our thoughts, words, and deeds bring You glory… and glory to You alone. –Amen
Peace,
Jim
