ASPECTS OF LOVE    

 

A short devotion is a poor place to look a the subject of love, there is just too much to say. I will however remind you of three aspects of love from First Corinthians chapter 13.

 

First Verses 1-3 and 13 show us love is more important that the performance of religious duties. By that I mean, you can't do good things and hope to make up for a lack of love. True religion is love in action. I have met many religious people, who are great at following church rules, but are filled with anger and envy towards others. That kind of religion will never please God

 

Secondly love is not just an emotion. Emotion can make room for true love, but with out a strong commitment , it is just infatuation. True love does not find it's roots in emotions alone, but it is rroted in our choices. I am glad there is emotion in love, it brings much joy to my life, but I can't always choose to have a emotion. I can choose to put myself in a position where deep emotions are possible. I choose to care, I choose to give, I choose to remember the good, and I choose to stay. When I make those choices the deepest of all love becomes possible, (when returned by another)

 

Thirdly love will last. How can this be, when so much "experience" would say otherwise? The kind of choices I just mention above lead to a permanent love. The bed rock of lasting love Is a commitment to God and his type of love. With that as a foundation It is possible to have the kind of lasting love that St. Paul describes.

 

Don't define love by your experience, learn to define it by I Corinthians 13.

 

1 Corinthians 13

 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

 

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  (NIV)