Characteristics of love - never fails

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1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth......


The Amplified Bible says -- Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]


God will always love us as His children. Love includes discipline. God's love toward us is not a cupcake kind of love. He does not give us our selfish desires and requests. He wants us to grow closer to Him, love Him more deeply every day and follow Him more and more closely, all for our eternal good and His glory. So we too, in our relationships with others, we love but not with a cupcake kind of love. We love the way God loves, a sacrificial love, that encourages others to live holy, God honoring lives for the Lord, live to glorify the Lord in all you do and say.

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Characteristics of love - perseverance

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1 Corinthians 13:7

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. KJV

 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. NLT

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Characteristics of love....does not rejoice in iniquity

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1 Corinthians 13:6

 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; KJV

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ESV


We are studying the verses from 1 Corinthians that describe what love is. The word charity is used in the KJV and translated as love in other translations. The real love that God gives is not a sensual love, it is a kind and patient love and it affects how we treat others every day.


Love does not rejoice in iniquity - I want to comment on this as it pertains to the homosexual issue. When the US supreme court ruled on sodomite marriage recently, some people including President Obama used the phrase "love wins". Sadly homosexuality is not at all about love, it cannot be, because love is of God and homosexuality is not of God. It is of the devil. Homosexuality is a deception of the devil, it is not love - it is lust and greed and perversion in full. The Bible clearly states in the Old Testament and the New Testament that homosexuality is an abomination in the eye of the Lord. 

Now we read in 1 Corinthians 13: 6 that love does not rejoice in iniquity. When we have the love of God in our hearts we are grieved and do not rejoice when evil is promoted all around us. As Christians we are offended and grieved by the very same things that offend and grieve the heart of the Lord and this includes homosexuality.

When we walk in the love of God we rejoice in the truth. The Bible is the true Word of God and we delight in it. The Bible gives us hope. I have found that the Lord will speak to me and into my situation as I read my Bible. He will take the portion of Scripture I am reading and speak encouragement, hope and truth into my heart. The joy of the Lord is our strength!! The Lord and His Word wins!!

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Characteristics of love - Love thinks no evil....

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1 Corinthians 13:5 


 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; KJV


 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; NKJV


Real love -

*is not rude ( rude comments or behavior have no place in the life of a Christian)

*does not demand his or her own way ( thoughtful of others )

*  is not easily provoked or angered  ( not irritable - when there are interruptions in our day or we are in contact with people who are irritable or rude, we do not stoop to join in those negative attitudes, we are lead by the Holy Spirit in the ways of righteousness.

* real love thinks no evil - think no evil, that is a pretty easy to understand phrase...think no evil!

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Characteristics of love ....Love does not envy

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1 Corinthians 13: 4

..... charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, KJV

.....love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ESV 

In our previous study we focused on the what love is - love is patient and kind. Now we find what love it not  - love does not envy or boast, and is not arrogant!

 It is quite possible that in our busyness of life that we often do not think of the seriousness of living our daily lives in ways that are sinful and displeasing to the Lord. We read in James 3: 14-16 some very serious words that we should take heed to. It says: But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Where envy and self seeking exist, there is confusion and every evil thing there!  It is demonic! wow! Let us turn to the Lord in repentance and get rid of these things in our lives. 
Our 1 Corinthians verse states that love does not envy. When one has envy in his heart, there is not love. We can think of some Old Testament Bible stories like the story of Joseph where the brothers were envious of him, and sold him into slavery in Egypt. The brothers envy was hateful and led them to do evil things. We can think of the story of Sarah and Abraham, where Sarah was so desperate to have a child, she gave her maid Hagar to Abraham to have her bear a child. Sarah did not wait on the Lord, but took matters into her own hands. Then when Hagar became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham, Sarah was jealous and did not want Hagar nor her son Ishmael, around and therefore Abraham sent them away. Here too envy led to some very bad decisions. 
We also read in the New Testament where the chief priests wanted Jesus to be killed because their hearts were filled with envy, and Barabbas was  released and Jesus was crucified. You can read it in Mark 15.


We are to lay aside all envy as we walk with the Lord Jesus.
1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,  as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Love does not boast and is not arrogant. This has to do with pride. We must realize and admit that everything we have accomplished or earned or received in this life is a gift from the hand of God. He is the One who gives us strength and abilities, opportunities and all we need to work. We cannot and should not take the credit for ourselves. All glory and honor belongs to the Lord!! Also when we pass from here, we can take none of our earthly treasures with us. All the money you have in the bank will be left here on this earth. You cannot take your riches with you. It makes no sense to be arrogant and proud about these things as they are only on loan to us from the Lord.  As the famous CT Studd  said - "Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Psalm 49:6-20They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

1 Corinthians 13:4-10 

 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Characteristics of Love - patient and kind

In the next few weeks, I want to study several verses from 1 Corinthians 13 and talk about love. The King James Bible uses the word charity, and in most other translations the word love is used. So to begin, let's focus our attention on the fact that love is patient and kind. What does this mean practically speaking and what examples can we think of where we have seen this played out? Feel free to leave your experiences and thoughts in the comment section.

1 Corinthians 13:4

 Charity suffereth long, and is kind KJB


Love is patient and kind  NLT


The love that I want to discuss here in these posts is not romantic love though it does not exclude romantic love. A good definition of love is "you before me, your needs before mine". And we will see this love displayed as we think on the topic of love. 
God loves us deeply and completely and as we all know, we can look to Him and see what love looks like. The ultimate demonstration of this love is that God gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross to pay for our sin and redeem us back to Himself.

Love suffers long and is kind - love is patient and kind. 

God is patient with us as his children. He is not harsh with us. The Bible says that He is not willing that anyone should perish but that all should come to Him and be saved. So because of this he waits and softly He keeps calling us to surrender our lives to Him.

 But what examples of this love being kind, patient and suffering long have you seen demonstrated by fellow Christians in your life?

Here are a few examples -
* a mother caring for a sick child, Day in and day out she stays by her child's side, she gives up her own wants and desires to care for the child who needs her. She waits patiently for healing for some sign of improvement to come. In kindness she provides all that she can to bring about as quick recovery as possible.

* a parent or teacher or youth pastor who never gives up on that wayward child, but continually pours time and energy into the child even with no real obvious results, patiently waiting for him or her to make that needed change in his or her life. 

* a marriage gone wrong - spouse whose needs are not being met, Your husband or wife is consumed by other things and seemingly does not care anymore. Quietly and patiently and prayerfully you wait for the Lord to do something to bring about change to your situation. You are not looking to get out of the marriage - you are waiting on the Lord. In this patient love you will continue to treat him or her in kindness, doing all you can to please the Lord.

* single people - you long for the marriage partner that you believe is in God's will for you. Time is going by and your prayers are seemingly going unanswered. You are committed to the Lord, and so because of your love for the Lord, you continue to wait and to seek His face. He has a perfect plan for your life, waiting on the Lord is hard but it is what is needed.

*dating guys - the Lord has brought that special girl into your life. Keep yourself and your girlfriend pure. God's design is best - sex within the bond of marriage is God's plan for you. Love is kind and patient and will wait for marriage. 

So we see many there are many examples of real life situations where walking in God's love is a patient waiting, doing good and kind deeds to those around us as we wait.

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Loving like God loves....

On Sunday, May 4th, we had a guest speaker in our church. His name is Tim Sawatsky. The following are my notes that I took during the service as I listened to him speak.

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1 John 4 :7-11

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

What does it mean to be loved by God?

What you believe in your life is how you will behave - you will live accordingly.

Why does God care about you and me? 

According to 1 John 4:10, it is because He loves you and me.

When you truly love someone - you will care about them and for them.

Love is more than words.

God showed His great love for us by going to the cross - Jesus died on the cross in our place for the forgiveness of our sin.

Every day is a choice to love.

To love is a commandment from God - not a suggestion.

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Love as Jesus has loved us.

The world is watching - are you loving your neighbor as yourself?

The world doesn't care how much you know - but rather how much you care.

What would it look like if we loved one another? A good definition of love is "you before me" - that is I must put my needs and desires aside and look for the good of others, help those in need, be a good listener, pray for others, help the hurting, give up your time for others etc.

The God of the universe cares for me!!

Everyday is an amazing gift from God! Every breath you take is an amazing gift from God.

Love requires action!!

The cross brings unity -  rich and poor, male and female, color of skin, tall or short, old or young - all are equal in God's eyes.

Jesus paid the same price for all - We are level, equal.

We are one in Christ.

Ephesians 3:14-20

 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Funeral

This past Sunday I was at my uncle's funeral. He was just about ninety years old. It was a nice funeral, the preacher preached a good message of hope and love. Seeing the body lying there in the coffin brings out the reality of the finality of death. We know that the soul has departed to live eternally with the Lord but the life lived here has ended. No more chances to give your loved one a kiss and tell them "I love you". No more chances to seek or to give forgiveness. What has been left undone remains undone. We can not deny the reality of the finality of death. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 11:3  and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.


Here is a poem that is about the game of baseball but it also fits when thinking about the finality of death.  The poem is  Game Called and is written by Grantland Rice.




Game Called ( by Grantland Rice) 

Game Called. Across the field of play
the dusk has come, the hour is late.
The fight is done and lost or won,
the player files out through the gate.
The tumult dies, the cheer is hushed,
the stands are bare, the park is still.
But through the night there shines the light,
home beyond the silent hill.

Game Called. Where in the golden light
the bugle rolled the reveille.
The shadows creep where night falls deep,
and taps has called the end of play.
The game is done, the score is in,
the final cheer and jeer have passed.
But in the night, beyond the fight,
the player finds his rest at last.

Game Called. Upon the field of life
the darkness gathers far and wide,
the dream is done, the score is spun
that stands forever in the guide.
Nor victory, nor yet defeat
is chalked against the players name.
But down the roll, the final scroll,
shows only how he played the game.

What is the Meaning of Life? ( Sunday Sermon Review )

Sunday Sermon Review - April 28, 2013
( from my home church I attend regularly )

Topic - What is the Meaning of Life?
Matthew Series 

Matthew 22:34-46³⁴ But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.³⁵ Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,³⁶ Master, which is the great commandment in the law?³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.⁴¹ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,⁴² Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.⁴³ He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,⁴⁴ The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?⁴⁵ If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?⁴⁶ And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Our speaker today was Pastor Ben. Here is some of what he said.

What is the meaning of life? That is what is the most important thing? 

The Jewish leader came to Jesus with another trap. 

They asked Jesus what is the most important commandment in the law. 

Jesus answers their question by going back to the Old Testament to two passages that are very important to the Jewish people. The first one is a prayer. The devout Jews pray this 2 times each day still even today. That is Deuteronomy 6:4-5  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might

The second passage is Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

Jesus says in verse 40 of our text that on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. The term law and the prophets simply means the Bible - the whole Bible.

Love the Lord your God

To love the Lord God means to love the God of the Bible - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There is no other true God but Him.

Loving God means to love Jesus - Jesus is fully God.

The the latter part of the text Jesus asks the Pharisees a question - What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.

Jesus continues - How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

 We must remember that the son is always under the Father. It was that way in the Bible times, it is that way today. Why then does David call Jesus Lord?

Jesus is God but yet He was born from the line of King David when he came  to earth and that is why is both Lord and David's son. 

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God. Loving God means loving Jesus with your heart soul and mind. Our hearts need to be fixated on Him.

What does this mean? 

((At this point Pastor Ben lead us in a prayer and then we each sat quietly before the Lord to allow the Lord to reveal to each of us individually how we are to love Him with our heart, soul and mind. Heart: for me it was trust - to trust God with the circumstances of my life - past, present and future, my health, my children, my marriage, etc. Soul: again trust - to trust God to actually take me to His heaven when my life here is over. Mind: - to become more aware of God working all around me in my own life, as well as the life of my husband, my children, family and the world all around. Everything has to do with God.))

The Hebrew word mind carries with it the thought of strength and ability.

Love your neighbor as yourself

The two commandments cannot be separated.

Loving your neighbor does not include mushy feelings.

It is a commitment to take other people's needs seriously.

1John 4:20-21  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

This includes people you are in relationship with. People around you, family, neighbors, co-workers, enemies.

Love God and the people around us.

Hatred and pride are left behind and love becomes a reality!

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany - Easter Week in Pictures ( Series )

Tuesday 

Mary anoints Jesus head at Bethany
( picture from biblessonsite.org )

And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.