4-26-20 A Lesson in Love

A Lesson in Love - Mike Carey - silverwood08@gmail.com
 
What is Love?
 
Most people would describe love as a strong feeling of affection for another person, place or thing.
 
In the bible, God describes the characteristics of love as follows:
 
"Love is patient; love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offence. Love keeps no score of wrongs; does not gloat over another's sins, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and its endurance. In a word, there are three things that last forever: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of them all is love." (1 Corinthians 13)
 
Loving Another Person
 
Love is a choice. You can love anyone, and you often choose to love another person because of how they make you feel when you are with them. When you truly love another person, you want the highest and best for that person, putting their needs, their happiness and their welfare, ahead of your own. Your goal is to always lift them up, protect them and to provide for them. True love is sacrificial in nature.
 
The Five Love Languages
 
Love languages are qualities that make a person feel loved, and are the way to lift up the other person. Each person has a primary and a secondary love language. It is imperative to find and practice the language that makes the other person feel loved. Too often, we try to love someone in our own love language and do not understand why they do not respond in the way we expect them to. Lifting a person up by practicing their love language is the way to make love grow and for it to be much stronger. This also builds positive memories, which are vital in a growing relationship.
 
1.     Physical Touch - may just include a caress, holding hands, or any touch that tells the other person, ¨I love you¨.
 
2.     Gift Giving - is a way of showing love. When a person´s love language is in that category, the size of the gift is not important. It is the love and care behind it that matters.
 
3.     Quality Time - usually includes anything you do together because you value each other. It will often include some or all of the love languages.
 
4.     Words of Endearment - Sometimes, are just the way we refer to the other person, ie honey, sweetheart, etc. Strangers probably think that my name is ¨Baby¨ because that is what my wife calls me all the time. Sincere compliments are a must in this category, which include telling the other person how nice they look, how beautiful/handsome they are, etc..
5.     Acts of Service - Doing things for the other person, not expecting anything in return. Selfless service is an integral part of love, and it makes the other person feel of value.
Note: Practicing the love languages daily will build a strong and growing love relationship.

What Destroys Love
 
If lifting up the other person builds love, then it is obvious that the opposite, or tearing down the other person, destroys love. The worst weapons of destruction are criticism, judging, and condemnation. If you truly love someone, it is imperative to avoid the use of the above. Even so, disagreements will happen, and some of the these will surface from time to time. If this occurs, the remedy is to immediately seek forgiveness. It does not matter who is right or wrong. Forgiveness is the answer, and will restore the love relationship. It is interesting that, if the one who was offended is the first to seek forgiveness, the other person will realize that they were wrong and ask forgiveness too. To be unforgiving does more damage to the one who possesses it than to the other person.

God is the Source of Love
 
¨God demonstrated His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us¨. Romans 5:8   The command of God is this: ¨Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And, Love your neighbor as your self.¨ Mathew 22:37-39   Real love comes from God and is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, ie love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. It is impossible to know real love without knowing God. God´s love is selfless and directed outward, toward others. Human love is selfish and is directed inward, with the attitude of ¨what´s in it for me? ¨ There is only one way to know God and to have eternal life. You must be born again. ¨ John 3:3 There is no other way. Religion, people, or good works will not save you. Jesus Christ died on a cross to pay for your sin. Only by recognizing Him as the Son of God, asking Him to forgive your sin, and putting your trust in Him and Him alone to save you, are you born again? ¨And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son, has life. He who does not have the Son, does not have life. 1 John 5:11-13 ¨For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.¨John 3:16
 
Living in the Last of the Last Days
 
God validated His word in the bible by telling us history in advance, called prophecy. God is outside of our time domain and only He knows the beginning from the end. He told us exactly what would happen in the very last days of life on earth. All of the things that he said would happen in the very last days are happening now, for the first time. The signs are obvious to those who are looking, and they indicate that Jesus is coming soon. Every aspect of society, worldwide, is in the state of decay and collapse. This includes the weather, the economy, health, food production, governments, water supplies, infrastructures, and society itself. We used to be dependent on God as the provider of all of these, but we have turned our back on God and have removed Him from all aspects of society. So, He is letting us go our own way. The best definition of sin is, independence from God. Instead of being dependent upon Him for everything, we are now independent of Him, and the result is death and destruction. God is love. Love is a choice. Time is running out. Choose now to put your trust in Jesus to save you. To not make a choice, is the same as making a choice. ¨For by grace are you saved through faith, and not of yourself, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

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