Love. (noun): a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person; a feeling of warm , personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend; sexual passion or desire; a person toward whom love is felt;beloved person; sweetheart. (dictionary.com)
Love is such a powerful word… and one that get's "thrown" around a lot I think. When you have a favorite team for instance, you usually say " I love them" or your favorite color "I love the color blue." We say we love our cars, our houses, certain music, bands, etc. We say that we love people- and sometimes we really do, and other times not so much. We may think we do at the time, but come to find out later "Maybe this isn't really love after all." Or worse, someone tells you that they love you only to find out later that their love have disappeared or been given to someone else instead. Love is a beautiful thing– and yet also a painful thing at the same time.
Recently, I have started reading through books of the Bible at night before I go to bed. I read through Acts, Romans, and now I have started reading through 1 Corinthians. Last night, as I was reflecting on Resurrection Sunday and all that God has done for me, I came upon Chapter 13, or better known as the "love" chapter of the Bible. It hit a place in my spirit, kind of like a soft kick to the stomach (not to sound violent, but it kind of like that, that when-you-know-you-should-pay-attention kind of feeling) As I read these verses, I paid special attention to them, it was like i had never read them before.
"If I speak in tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Here, Paul writes that you can have everything yet you still have nothing if you do not have love. This is not to say "a love" , such as in that special someone, but refers to if you have no love within you at all. At the beginning, I gave the worldly definition of love. But let's take a look at what God's definition of love is.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Wow. As I read these words, I am filled with conviction. The "always" really stand out to me. "Always" means just that, always. Every time. Never failing. These are some big things to live up to, some big steps to be walking in, and I am painfully aware that my shoes may be too small for those big steps. I am not always patient and I'm not always kind. Sometimes I do envy others, though I repent when I am aware of it. I can be prideful at times. Sometimes I get angry with people quickly when I am annoyed. The list goes on and on. As I think about what the World Race entails, "loving the least of these", I realize that I might not know how to do that at all times. I thought I knew love, but here I see my short comings. How can I love the least of these if I am not sure I have a full understanding of what love really is. And then to drive the idea home, I am reminded of the command Jesus gave to his disciples and what He did for them, and for me.
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:12-14
Jesus loved with such a passion, that He WILLINGLY gave up His life for His friends. That means for his disciples, for His followers, for you, and for me. As I consider that possibility I see that I do not truly know love yet. I am not sure if I would WILLINGLY lay down my life for my friends. That's just being real and honest. And that's a painful thing to see. Am I not loving whole heartedly? As the Race grows ever closer (3 months till launch!) God is revealing to me the things I need to work on, things that I need to know and understand before we leave. I'm not saying that I have to have everything together, because trust me I won't, but there are things God wants me to learn now, before launch.
So Lord, teach me to love. Show me what that really means. Open my heart to see all that you have for me. Increase my awareness of Your Presence, show me how to love the least of these and open up my heart to be able to do so I pray. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
