MONDAY'S MEDITATIONS: MORE TO SAY ABOUT LOVE, I NEVER TIRE OF IT...

Of course most of humanity knows LOVE, yet, some of the LOVE we know is not right-minded, some is downright selfish, some is materially inclined, and lots of it is conditional!

Many LOVE their immediate Family, some too much, some not enough, along with those that they have allowed into their tight knit circle, but other than that, don't have an ounce of LOVE for others! Many LOVE their tangibles, such as money, success, popularity, and other such, but, wouldn't share any of it with anyone in need! I could go on, but, we all know the TRUTH of our LOVE; it leaves much to be desired, thus, *GOD* offers to TEACH us to LOVE, via HIS PERFECT LOVE, still, too many skirt the issue, and/or, imagine that they DO LOVE as does HE...

LOVE is SOUND, and FULL of principles, goodness, and endless forwarding of itself, and NEVER has ANY self-inclination attached to it, for then, it is stagnated, stymied, and hindered! LOVE by standard, and perfection HAS to be forwarded, only then is it PURE!!!

There is NO pride, vanity, or any other negative in LOVE! There is nothing in the core of LOVE which could, or would, create what is against it! LOVE is CLEAN, and unspoiled, it is simply, PURE!!!

We, whom claim oneness with THE LORD, OUGHT to know HIM enough to BEGIN to testify TO LOVE, via HIS example, HIS teachings, HIS instructions, and HIS references to what happens when we do NOT step into LOVE! CHRIST IS THE EPITOME of LOVE, yet, most have not reached deep enough into study, consideration, or thought, to grasp even a straw portion of HIS PERFECT LOVE, which, we ARE to adapt to, strengthen, develop, and share with ALL! LOVE IS THE LAW, point blank, and those who do not LOVE as HE has instructed us to, do not LOVE HIM, HE says!!!

MATTHEW 22: 37-40... 
37/ He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 
38/ This is the greatest and the first commandment. 
39/ The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 
40/ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.

An interpreter of the law asked our Lord a question, to try, not so much his knowledge, as his judgment. The love of God is the first and great commandment, and the sum of all the commands of the first table. Our love of God must be sincere, not in word and tongue only. All our love is too little to bestow upon him, therefore all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him, and carried out toward him. 

To love our neighbour as ourselves, is the second great commandment. There is a self-love which is corrupt, and the root of the greatest sins, and it must be put off and mortified; but there is a self-love which is the rule of the greatest duty: we must have a due concern for the welfare of our own souls and bodies. And we must love our neighbour as truly and sincerely as we love ourselves; in many cases we must deny ourselves for the good of others. By these two commandments let our hearts be formed as by a mold.

THEN, CHRIST says:
JOHN 14; 15... 
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

1 JOHN 4: 20-21... 
20/ If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 
21/ This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

True love to God assures believers of God's love to them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, 2Ti 2:12. 

We must distinguish between the fear of God and being afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly. It is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts, fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. 

Let heaven and earth stand amazed at his love. He sent his word to invite sinners to partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory. The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion. 

This must be tried by its effects on their temper, and their conduct to their brethren. If a man professes to love God, and yet indulges anger or revenge, or shows a selfish disposition, he gives his profession the lie. But if it is plain that our natural enmity is changed into affection and gratitude, let us bless the name of our God for this seal and earnest of eternal happiness. Then we differ from the false professors, who pretend to love God, whom they have not seen, yet hate their brethren, whom they have seen.

LOVE KEEPS US ALIGNED, and ALWAYS working FOR HIS GLORY, and THE GOOD OF ALL! LOVE KEEPS us out of danger, trouble, and inclination to sin! LOVE hears us saying, "I will not forsake my LORD", and SEES us living in that TRUTH, which then, spans forth into the world, seeing us in the same manner, dealing with others, from Spouse, all the way to the most distant stranger, because to withhold LOVE from anyone, IS to forsake THE LORD! LOVE IS THE LAW because IN LOVE there is CONSCIENTIOUS awareness of what PROMOTES LOVE, and knowledge of what denies it! LOVE WORKS in EVERY context of works!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

LOVE NEVER FAILS, WE fail LOVE!!! lw'13