Love

Love

Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Let’s talk about love.

Love, a word commonly used and thrown around effortlessly. So, what is love? There are many definitions of love in the world. Some say that love is a feeling, an emotion, a warm fuzziness that comes in us when we think of another person.

We do not understand what love is any more. So many ideas, emotions, actions are labeled and we assume that they constitute love. Many are confused and continue in the path of these ideas, emotions and actions and end up hating love, fearing love and perpetuating the wrong ideas about love. No need for confusion. Let us go to what scripture says.

It is inconceivable that scripture would not say anything about love. Scripture says that GOD is love. Love is the first fruit of The HOLY SPIRIT mentioned. Scripture also says that three things remain, faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love.

Galatians 5:22-23 mentions the first fruit of The SPIRIT as being love. This means that, and I say conclusively that, love comes about as a result of The SPIRIT of GOD living in you. In other words, without The SPIRIT of GOD living in you and being in control of you, you are unable to love or perform acts of love. So, what we see in the world today being labeled love, a lot of it fails the scriptural test and this is confirmed by the disappointment many have felt when in love. It is because The MOST HIGH is not in it, not in the individuals doing the acts of love and not in act. Remember, our SAVIOR telling us that without HIM we can do nothing. Without our SAVIOR we cannot love. Without The MOST HIGH we cannot love.

A read of Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 13-14 reveal a good deal of similarities. Some of the words keep on resurfacing. Look and see.

Galatians 5:22-23 also states that the evidence of The SPIRIT of GOD in you is not only, love, but also joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. In other words without the SPIRIT of GOD, you cannot truly and authentically have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. 1 John 4:7-8. Some of these words resurface in 1 Corinthians 13.

Yes, many continue doing acts that on the face of it display these attributes. But a lot of it is for selfishness, publicity, photo ops, company policy or as an act of corporate social responsibility, for tax breaks, to be seen as a kind and good person, to fulfill religious laws and practice and many other reasons. Unless, The SPIRIT of the ALMIGHTY is behind these acts then they do not fall into the category of the love described in scripture. That is why; you find many evil and wicked people and institutions also doing acts that are widely considered as good and ‘loving’. Beloved, the scripture informs us that every work will be tested by fire, yes, even that proposal you made on one knee in the midst of a million roses while being serenaded by romantic music, including that donation you made to the poor and the under privileged.

What am I saying Beloved, in a nutshell, you must be saved and The HOLY SPIRIT must dwell in you and inspire all you do, otherwise you are operating in carnality, in the flesh, and you stand the risk of being told by The SAVIOR on judgment day, “ ..Depart, I do not know you” and then you start, “ But LORD, I removed devils in YOUR NAME....”. Beloved, get saved now and do all as led by The SPIRIT of GOD.

I Corinthians 13 continue to tell us more. These can also be described as the characteristics of love.

i. Love is patient. In other words, when you have love you are patient. That means you are tolerant, you endure, you don’t get tired easily, you don’t complain and you have peace and serenity around you. You exude peace. Our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, is also known as The PRINCE of peace. Everyone likes being around peaceful people. People who have been around HIM describe an amazing and indescribable feeling of peace. Peace and patience walk together.

Beloved, The MOST HIGH is patient with you while you are on this earth. After that time is up, you will face the consequences. Remember, Romans 8:28, all things work together for your good. Have peace and wait on The LORD. Psalm 37:3

ii. Love is kind. Kindness means being friendly, generous and considerate. The MOST HIGH is like this. HE calls us friends. HE gives generously and considers each and every aspect of HIS creation, including you, in their unique and joint circumstances. How then will you be authentically kind, if you do not know HIM and HE is not living in you? Most people can sense when someone is being kind to them with an end in mind. The MOST HIGH is kind, that’s HIS nature, to all. There is nothing you can give HIM. HE owns everything and everyone. HE can do all things. So, HIS kindness to you is the purest and most genuine form of kindness that can ever exist. HE lets the rain fall on the wicked and the good alike. He lets the wheat and the tares grow together that is while you are on this earth.