This is the month of LOVE! A month to celebrate, and hopefully, embrace LOVE to a point of it melding deeper into the being, and becoming more prominent on this Earth! LOVE IS THE POINT of our LORD'S GIFT OF LIFE, and for CHOOSING us to share in eternity with HIM! LOVE IS the answer to ALL we face, and to betterment! LOVE IS, in the end, ALL there is, and ever shall be, even if humans never grasp, embrace, or exist in it! *GOD* IS LOVE, and LOVE LEADS us through this valley TO THE KINGDOM...
It is time to RENEW our LOVE, and PASSION for THE LORD *GOD*, and to review our walk with HIM! CHRIST JESUS IS our exemplar of LOVE, and PASSION, and IN HIM we are able to tap into the endless store therein! HIS LOVE IS a far cry from the limited, conditional LOVE we, in this realm, are used to, and it IS difficult for us to understand, let alone allow to become one with us, yet, NOTHING is more imperative, or rewarding! Involved IS humbling ourselves before HIM, and others, being obedient to HIS WILL, relinquishing, and surrendering our will for HIS, SERVING HIM, and others, letting go of the flesh, and endorsing, and existing in the spiritual, DOING, and BEING GOOD, maintaining self-control, and overall, ADAPTING TO a VIRTUOUS existence, FOR HIS GLORY, for the sake of souls, and for our own good, and safety!!!
As the world becomes more volatile, and more hostile, LOVE NEEDS to SHINE OF HIM, and BRING to the table, HOPE, because HOPE IS valuable, and profitable TO the being, especially as one experiences, and witnesses the negativity, and ugliness of the contrast! FAITH IS that which grants HOPE, and neither can continue without the other! AND in both, LOVE IS THE core which feeds their growth, and productiveness! FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE GUIDE us, strengthen us, teach us, protect us, and open us up to being able to GIVE!!!
GIVING IS beneficial TO the giver, and TO the receiver, and always compensates, and honours! Imagine IF *GOD* was unable to GIVE to us; our fate would be set, because without HIS GIFT(S), we would be lost along with the world, forever! Giving IS freeing for the being, and MUST be done without discernment, or self! ONLY through LOVE can we learn HOW to GIVE as we ought, and to understand that it does NOT need to be reciprocated by the receiver, for the dividends ARE FROM THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, whether that be sooner, or much later! GIVING IS a deep rooted pleasure, but carnal LOVE has determined it must be returned in even the slightest of ways! NOPE!, that ISN'T giving from LOVE, it is giving from self!!!
I WISH I were able to show the world just how much change WOULD occur IF people WERE to discover REAL LOVE, and exist in it! FOR SURE, there WOULD be HEAVEN ON Earth, and we COULD, finally, be happy, and complete! Alas, BECAUSE of the perception of LOVE from the human concept of LOVE, there is NOT a lot of trust, or belief IN THE POWERS OF LOVE, DESPITE THAT OUR LORD HAS SHOWN THE ABSOLUTE POWER(S) THEREIN! Ah, it is frustrating, as ALL COULD be rectified IF ONLY we understood, embraced, and utilized LOVE!!!
PROVERBS 10: 12...
Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions.
Where there is hatred, every thing stirs up strife. By bearing with each other, peace and harmony are preserved.
1 JOHN 4: 8...
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God's glory and justice, shows that God is love.
Mystery and darkness rest upon many things yet. God has so shown himself to be love, that we cannot come short of eternal happiness, unless through unbelief and impenitence, although strict justice would condemn us to hopeless misery, because we break our Creator's laws. None of our words or thoughts can do justice to the free, astonishing love of a holy God towards sinners, who could not profit or harm him, whom he might justly crush in a moment, and whose deserving of his vengeance was shown in the method by which they were saved, though he could by his almighty Word have created other worlds, with more perfect beings, if he had seen fit.
Search we the whole universe for love in its most glorious displays? It is to be found in the person and the cross of Christ. Does love exist between God and sinners? Here was the origin, not that we loved God, but that he freely loved us. His love could not be designed to be fruitless upon us, and when its proper end and issue are gained and produced, it may be said to be perfected. So faith is perfected by its works. Thus it will appear that God dwells in us by his new-creating Spirit. A loving Christian is a perfect Christian; set him to any good duty, and he is perfect to it, he is expert at it. Love oils the wheels of his affections, and sets him on that which is helpful to his brethren. A man that goes about a business with ill will, always does it badly.
That God dwells in us and we in him, were words too high for mortals to use, had not God put them before us. But how may it be known whether the testimony to this does proceed from the Holy Ghost? Those who are truly persuaded that they are the sons of God, cannot but call him Abba, Father. From love to him, they hate sin, and whatever disagrees with his will, and they have a sound and hearty desire to do his will. Such testimony is the testimony of the Holy Ghost.
And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all. While in this world, where there is so much corruption in our hearts, quarrels will sometimes arise. But it is our duty to forgive one another, imitating the forgiveness through which we are saved. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts; it is of his working in all who are his. Thanksgiving to God, helps to make us agreeable to all men. The gospel is the word of Christ. Many have the word, but it dwells in them poorly; it has no power over them. The soul prospers, when we are full of the Scriptures and of the grace of Christ. But when we sing psalms, we must be affected with what we sing. Whatever we are employed about, let us do every thing in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in believing dependence on him. Those who do all in Christ's name, will never want matter of thanksgiving to God, even the Father.
EPHESIANS 5: 2...
and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be ye followers of God, imitators of God. Resemble him especially in his love and pardoning goodness, as becomes those beloved by their heavenly Father. In Christ's sacrifice his love triumphs, and we are to consider it fully.
1 CORINTHIANS 16: 14...
Do everything in love.
A Christian is always in danger, therefore should ever be on the watch. He should be fixed in the faith of the gospel, and never desert or give it up. By this faith alone he will be able to keep his ground in an hour of temptation. Christians should be careful that charity not only reigns in their hearts, but shines in their lives. There is a great difference between Christian firmness and feverish warmth and transport. The apostle gave particular directions as to some who served the cause of Christ among them. Those who serve the saints, those who desire the honour of the churches, and to remove reproaches from them, are to be thought much of, and loved. They should willingly acknowledge the worth of such, and all who laboured with or helped the apostle.
1 CORINTHIANS 13: 13...
But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Charity is much to be preferred to the gifts on which the Corinthians prided themselves. From its longer continuance. It is a grace, lasting as eternity. The present state is a state of childhood, the future that of manhood. Such is the difference between earth and heaven. What narrow views, what confused notions of things, have children when compared with grown men! Thus shall we think of our most valued gifts of this world, when we come to heaven. All things are dark and confused now, compared with what they will be hereafter. They can only be seen as by the reflection in a mirror, or in the description of a riddle; but hereafter our knowledge will be free from all obscurity and error. It is the light of heaven only, that will remove all clouds and darkness that hide the face of God from us.
To sum up the excellences of charity, it is preferred not only to gifts, but to other graces, to faith and hope. Faith fixes on the Divine revelation, and assents thereto, relying on the Divine Redeemer. Hope fastens on future happiness, and waits for that; but in heaven, faith will be swallowed up in actual sight, and hope in enjoyment. There is no room to believe and hope, when we see and enjoy. But there, love will be made perfect. There we shall perfectly love God. And there we shall perfectly love one another. Blessed state! how much surpassing the best below! God is love, 1Jo 4:8,16. Where God is to be seen as he is, and face to face, there charity is in its greatest height; there only will it be perfected.
1 PETER 4: 8...
Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Our approaching end, is a powerful argument to make us sober in all worldly matters, and earnest in religion. There are so many things amiss in all, that unless love covers, excuses, and forgives in others, the mistakes and faults for which every one needs the forbearance of others, Satan will prevail to stir up divisions and discords. But we are not to suppose that charity will cover or make amends for the sins of those who exercise it, so as to induce God to forgive them. The nature of a Christian's work, which is high work and hard work, the goodness of the Master, and the excellence of the reward, all require that our endeavours should be serious and earnest. And in all the duties and services of life, we should aim at the glory of God as our chief end. He is a miserable, unsettled wretch, who cleaves to himself, and forgets God; is only perplexed about his credit, and gain, and base ends, which are often broken, and which, when he attains, both he and they must shortly perish together. But he who has given up himself and his all to God, may say confidently that the Lord is his portion; and nothing but glory through Christ Jesus, is solid and lasting; that abideth for ever.
There is, of course, MUCH more instruction on LOVE, but this ought to remind us, and inspire us to seek, and learn more of the beautiful, and gracious condition, and consciousnesses of LOVE! LOVE IS ALL we need, in diverse ways!!!
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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