LOVE and AM I LOVING?
Many of us are familiar with the passage from the Bible in I Corinthians 13: 1-8, 13, often called the “Love Passage,” and the “Greatest of These.”
Let’s read the passage from the New International Version:
13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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 do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Here is the same passage from the New King James Version:
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Notice that the first paragraph of each version shows us that, no matter how great we might be in any other area of our lives, if we do not have love, our “greatness” is worthless. Ouch!
Next, is a list of the attributes of love. Love is patient…….The New King James Version says “suffers long.” Others use the word longsuffering. What’s that? Well, it’s the opposite of short-suffering! It’s willingness to wait. Take this test: Sit where you are and look at your watch. Do not move or talk for one minute. See how long it feels. Now, imagine being that patient while someone is trying to explain his/her side of a disagreement. Hmmmmm. Longsuffering. I think the word fits.
Here’s another one to ponder: Love is not easily angered or provoked, and does not seek to retaliate. Another ouch. And no tit for tat. Ouch, ouch, ouch.
Which attributes do I need to work on the most?
COMMUNICATING LOVE
Here is a little exercise for you to try after reading about love through God’s Eyes in the Scriptures. Perhaps you may have someone in mind that you can be thinking of while answering the questions. You may even try completing the exercise with that person!
1. How best do you express love?
2. How could you improve?
3. How best do you feel loved?
4. How best do you think ______________ expresses love?
5. Ask him/her. Were you right?
6. How best do you think _______________feels loved?
7. Again, ask him/her. Were you right?
8. If you did the exercise with someone, now give that person a turn for questions 1-7.
Prizes for going through the exercise!!!
Tools for Victory in the midst of the struggles of everyday life:
Improving ourselves/how we love; keeping our eyes on others, and being in tune – thankful for how other people do show us love and watchful for how they need love shown to them.
Weapons against the enemy of our souls:
No room for self pity; accepting the love others give us as their form of love-giving; getting our eyes off of ourselves; working on I Cor 13 love.
I pray that this helps you, as it has helped me, to love others the way God wants us to love – the way He loves us. Until next time, may God bless you!
Teri
TEN “KNOWS” TO HELP FIGHT THE BATTLE!
What battle? Why, the aggravations and interruptions and surprises that we encounter every day! If we recognize that we are, indeed, in a battle – not against flesh, but against the enemy of our souls – we will be ahead of the game. Jesus has already won the entire war by what He did on Calvary, but, as long as we are here on earth, we must stand our ground, and not allow the enemy to do what he does best –kill, steal and destroy. He can’t kill, steal or destroy our salvation, but he sure can mess with our joy, peace, and victory over troubles while we are here on earth. He does not sleep; he and his companions are always at work. If we do not recognize this, we will live miserably. Here are ten “Knows” to help us keep our Victory in Jesus, regardless of our circumstances:
1. Know your Commander – Jesus!
a. His voice – Get to know the Real Thing vs. all counterfeits.
b. His character, reputation – He is Faithful. Study His Word to know Him better.
c. His trustworthiness, even if you don’t understand or agree where He’s taking you.
2. Know your enemy.
a. His voice. He is a liar, a discourager, an accuser. You can only know the counterfeit if you know the Real Thing.
b. His reputation is to kill, steal, and destroy. So, why trust him??
c. Important to know the difference (just like different uniforms in war, etc)
3. Know your weapons.
a. The Name of Jesus – it makes the enemy run!
b. The armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) – put it on!
c. Prayer – focusing on God and not on the enemy.
d. Use them! Keep them clean! Ready, not rusty! No good if they’re just sitting there.
4. Know your fellow warriors.
a. Do not forsake the getting together…(Hebrews 10:25)
b. Safety in numbers/have one another’s back – the enemy sure doesn’t like that.
c. Comradery (Romans 12:15). It helps you remember you’re in this together.
d. Encouragement to keep going; Satan always wants to get us alone. Then we’re vulnerable. How often we need a “reality check!”
5. Know your rank.
a. Be the best “corporal” or “shipman” you can be. Others are counting on you.
b. Don’t be wanting/coveting someone else’s job/rank (talent). Your eyes will be in the wrong place. You’ll be an easy target for the enemy. Be who you’re supposed to be.
6. Know your place/position.
a. Bloom where you are planted. Even when you’re on “leave.” Remember, Satan never sleeps. Stay alert at all times.
b. You are needed right where you are.
c. Trust your Commander to change it if He wants you somewhere else. Remember that you can completely trust Him because you “know” His Character is completely Trustworthy.
7. Know your terrain.
a. Areas in your life that are like bombs/dangers, and need to be avoided.
b. People who influence you negatively; gossipers, toxic people, etc.
c. For some, it might be places to avoid – bars for recovering alcoholics, etc.
d. Areas of shelter when you need them quickly; many times it’s an image in your mind.
e. Places of rest, to catch your breath. This is time with God to get you ready to fight again.
8. Know your strengths.
a. Use them to help your fellow warriors who are weaker.
b. Always use them remembering Who gave them to you. Give Him the glory.
c. Continue to develop them. You can always learn more. It shows humility.
9. Know your weaknesses.
a. Be humble enough to accept the fact that you have them.
b. Be humble enough to accept help from stronger fellow warriors.
c. Be willing to work on your weaknesses. You’ll be stronger!
d. Remember, it’s for the good of the whole – church, that the key.
10. Know your first aid kit.
a. The Name of Jesus, over and over. Every 5 minutes, if needed.
b. Pressure! – Sure, the enemy will be back, but you’ll be ready for him! Jesus!!!!!
So, there you have it. If you think you’re going nuts because things so often feel crazy and out of control, you’re not nuts. Life is. The enemy of our souls wants it to be that way. But God promised us joy and peace in the midst of any and all circumstances while we continue to live out our lives, all the while waiting for that glorious day when He calls us home to be with Him. Think and pray about these ten “Knows,” and see if they begin to help you start feeling like a true victorious soldier in God’s army, dressed for battle, equipped, trained, and definitely not alone. The battle is the Lord’s!
Until next time, dear friends, may God bless you abundantly!
Teri
Spirit Global Solutions - What’s That About?
Spirit Global Solutions. What, exactly, does that mean? How did it come to be? My “About” page tells a lot about who I am, and that, in itself, answers part of the question. My hope is that I will be able to reach people through a number of topics with which I am familiar – you can check out the Scroll Down on the Contact page for a sample – and connect them to the Solution of Solutions: Jesus. It does not matter what the issue is in life; the Answer is the same. In the coming Blogs, you will see a common “ribbon” of my faith in God, as He is the center of my life!
If you love Jesus as I do, then you, too, are filled with the Holy Spirit. He is there to guide you, comfort you, and even, at times, correct you. He is always present. He has a solution for the whole world (hence, Global) for every challenge you face, and He wants you to have victory in this life – peace, joy, stillness – in the midst of the chaos and the unknown. It is possible. I know because I live it firsthand. Do I get it right every time? Why, of course not. But, I know exactly what to do when I don’t.
Proverbs 3:6 says to acknowledge Him in all our ways, and He will direct our paths. The more we learn to practice this, the more we come to understand the beauty of abiding in Him. His promises are so fantastic. To think there are over 7,000 of them from God to us in His Word! Surely, there’s a lot to blog about!
Look for my first post soon. It will be about how to be prepared for the battle that we really are in. I share 10 “Know’s” that just may change your life. Until next time! God’s blessings to you!