I love shoes. I love fashion. I love to eat. I love
bling-bling and diamonds. I love anything animal print. Love, love, love… all
these things I love, not to mention my family, friends, and my sweet little dog
Sebastian.
But what is love? Is it just something you feel, or
something you say, or maybe a riveting emotion when you see something or
someone you like? Can you feel love, taste love, see love, touch love, or hear
love?
Love as defined by Merriam-Webster is: a strong
affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties: affection based
on admiration, benevolence, or common interests: warm attachment, enthusiasm,
or devotion: unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.
In an age where sex is glamorized, self-indulgence is
accepted as normal, and the sufficiency of money and power motivates people.
It’s arduous to understand what love really is.
The Bible has the clearest understandable definition
of love. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not
parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own,
is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in
the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things. Love never fails...” (1Corinthians 13:4-8)
WOW! What a beautiful picture of love. This is the
love we all strive for (not only to receive but to give) and desire.
Unfortunately our understanding of love has been tainted, warped, and distorted
by what we’ve seen or heard, by the way we’ve been treated or what we’ve been
told and even by what we've done.
But… the true meaning of love is written out for us in
black and white. So take a minute and think about everything you think you know
about love and everything you’ve been told… and if it has any negative
connotation then honey that’s NOT love. If thinking about love brings up any
negative emotions then that’s NOT love either.
First let me say this… Love is an ACTION word! So love
is something that you do and not just something that you say. 1Corinthians
13:4-8 describes the fullness of love.
Love is action, not abstraction. Love is patient with
people and gracious to them with generosity. Love never envies, or brags, or is
arrogant, since that is the opposite of selfless service to others. Never rude
or overbearing, love never wants its own way, is not irritated or angered in
personal offense, and finds no pleasure in someone else’s sin, even the sin of
an enemy. Love is devoted to truth in everything. Love protects, believes,
hopes, and endures what others reject. Love outlasts all failures.
I cannot explain away the hate in the world, but I can
encourage you to love. Love more, love hard, love unlovable people. Each one,
reach one! Keep Calm and DIVA On! #embraceyourdiva
#LOVE #loveisanactionword
1Corinthians 13:4-13 1John
4:8
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