L.O.V.E.

                      Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud.

                                                                                                                      1 Corinthians 13: 4

                            I've talked about love before. I don't think you can ever get too much of hearing about how to love one another and God. I think, though, if it doesn't line up with  God's definition of love...then you have a problem.  

                 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs.  

                                                                                                                   1 Corinthians 13:5

                               In this day and age love almost seems harder to figure out. The world say's love is one way and God says love is this way. Then Christians can sometimes get some of the world's love and God's love and make something like the Frankenstein monster. It becomes more works based, like you have to earn your love from God. Remember, Jesus died for our sin. His love, the salvation He brought, is a gift. We just have to accept it. 

                            So what does the world's love look like?
      
                              The love of the world is limited; you can only be loved so much. If you keep getting into trouble you'll have to get out. If you do something nice for me, I'll do something nice for you. If you act like us we'll love you. 
                              Its is cruel, heartless and careless. 

                              What about God's love? It's kind, patient, slow to anger, always love and protects, It never fails and His love delights in the Truth. God's love does not delight in evil, does not keep records of wrongs, it is not boastful, or proud. It's not jealous or rude. God's love is so radical and foreign to us. 

                  "For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." 
                                                                                                          John 3:16

                              You may know that verse well. Too well as a matter of fact. You may know this verse so well that you have forgotten the meaning of it. The meat of it. Why would God give His only son to a world that doesn't care? As a girl I know once said; "That's stupid! Why would God do that?" At the time I got mad at her honesty. But, as the years go by, I have thought about her words and looking at God's sacrifice through the eyes of those who don't know Jesus or know very little. That is stupid! Why would someone give himself over to a people that would gladly kill Him? Would revel in the thought of seeing Him bleed? In feeling his skin give way under their hands? In watching His flesh bruise and swell. Well, He did. And aren't you glad for His amazing love? His Holy love? His sacrificial love? 

                              Could you do that? Think of your neighbor. The one you don't like. The one that gets under your skin and you just want to chew them out every single time you see them. What about those who are out to hurt others? Use them, abuse them. Kill them. Would you be willing to reach out to them? It's easy to think of helping a person you like. What about your enemy? Could you give him a glass of cold water? Make him a delicious meal? Remember this: We were God's enemies before He rescued us. We did not know the depths of our sin until He revealed it to us. He loved us while we were sinners.

                             Let's love like Jesus. Radical love. Love those who hate us. Give to the needy. Reach out to the hurting. The rejects. The losers.  If you ask Him. He will reveal to you how to love like Him.