If God calls us to love one another as Christ loves the church. If we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, then how are we really called to love. What does that look like. I think the only way to know is to look at how God prepared in loving us..... Love takes preparation, thought, devotion, and commitment to see it through, (the good, the bad, and the ugly places in life).
Yesterday I stated that God is a God of commitment of oath, of promise, of follow through, of determination and dedication. All of these are wonderful examples of the kind of love he has for us. I think in reciprocating that love we are to reflect the love he has for us. So how do we begin to do that?
Preparation- How do we prepare to love? This always makes me think of a man preparing to ask the woman he loves to marry him. He is basing his question on the outcome he is preparing for. He wants to set the mood. He wants his lady to know she is his chosen one. The anticipation of what forever might be like is held in the memory of the asking. He rises to the occasion. Making it one of the single greatest moments of her life. He plans for what to say and how to say it. He plans the music or the background. He plans who might be in attendance. He even rehearses what she might say in response and his reaction to her answer.
In all the ways that a man prepares to announce his affections God has already mastered and is preparing our hearts to receive his love. So to we should be preparing our sonnets of love and our outward display of affection for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
Yesterday I stated that God is a God of commitment of oath, of promise, of follow through, of determination and dedication. All of these are wonderful examples of the kind of love he has for us. I think in reciprocating that love we are to reflect the love he has for us. So how do we begin to do that?
Preparation- How do we prepare to love? This always makes me think of a man preparing to ask the woman he loves to marry him. He is basing his question on the outcome he is preparing for. He wants to set the mood. He wants his lady to know she is his chosen one. The anticipation of what forever might be like is held in the memory of the asking. He rises to the occasion. Making it one of the single greatest moments of her life. He plans for what to say and how to say it. He plans the music or the background. He plans who might be in attendance. He even rehearses what she might say in response and his reaction to her answer.
In all the ways that a man prepares to announce his affections God has already mastered and is preparing our hearts to receive his love. So to we should be preparing our sonnets of love and our outward display of affection for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
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