*Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs* 1st Corinthians 13:4-5
A fresh definition of love can be quite difficult to come by. A two word definition is "selfless concern", and if I had to narrow it to one word, it would be "unselfishness" or "brokenness". That is what Paul ment by "the most excellent way".
Frist, Paul describes love as grace renewed. In 2nd Corinthians 3:18 he says: "And we... being transformed into His likeness with ever-incraesing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." Believers often find themselves going from glory to glory in Church or in their quiet time. Often the transition is accompanied by suffering, but every experience of being changed carries with it a fresh baptism of love, of unselfishness. Its like tha calm after the storm. Its this calm that is described in 1st Corinthians 13:4-5. This is a description of grace renewed. It is not only a renewal of faith and trust, but it is a peace that is devoid of bitterness.
Second, Paul describes love as a guilt removed, and that in two ways: first, we dont feel guilty, and second, we dont make others feel guilty. When grace is renewed and we are changed from glory to glory. the guilt is removed, and we feel so good. Guilt is the most crippling thing in the world. But when guilty feeling is gone, the need to make others feel guilty is not there. It is when we feel totally fogiven, totally absloved, that we will find it easy to forgive others.
Third, it is also a description of the Golden Rule: "In everything, do to others what you would have them to do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets " Matt. 7:12 In others words, treat people the way you would like them to treat you. How do you feel whan people make you feel guilty?! How do you feel when people blame you?! It makes you feel like dirt; you feel awful. God keeps no record of wrongs.
Perhaps your marriage is in trouble. If that is the case, start living like this. Dont wait for your husband or wife to do it. You do it. It will heal your marriage. "Do to others what you would like them to do to you".
A fresh definition of love can be quite difficult to come by. A two word definition is "selfless concern", and if I had to narrow it to one word, it would be "unselfishness" or "brokenness". That is what Paul ment by "the most excellent way".
Frist, Paul describes love as grace renewed. In 2nd Corinthians 3:18 he says: "And we... being transformed into His likeness with ever-incraesing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." Believers often find themselves going from glory to glory in Church or in their quiet time. Often the transition is accompanied by suffering, but every experience of being changed carries with it a fresh baptism of love, of unselfishness. Its like tha calm after the storm. Its this calm that is described in 1st Corinthians 13:4-5. This is a description of grace renewed. It is not only a renewal of faith and trust, but it is a peace that is devoid of bitterness.
Second, Paul describes love as a guilt removed, and that in two ways: first, we dont feel guilty, and second, we dont make others feel guilty. When grace is renewed and we are changed from glory to glory. the guilt is removed, and we feel so good. Guilt is the most crippling thing in the world. But when guilty feeling is gone, the need to make others feel guilty is not there. It is when we feel totally fogiven, totally absloved, that we will find it easy to forgive others.
Third, it is also a description of the Golden Rule: "In everything, do to others what you would have them to do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets " Matt. 7:12 In others words, treat people the way you would like them to treat you. How do you feel whan people make you feel guilty?! How do you feel when people blame you?! It makes you feel like dirt; you feel awful. God keeps no record of wrongs.
Perhaps your marriage is in trouble. If that is the case, start living like this. Dont wait for your husband or wife to do it. You do it. It will heal your marriage. "Do to others what you would like them to do to you".
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This is my devotional of today and it really wa a blessing for me.. I need to start living for others and not for myself.. Start doing to other what I would like them to do to me and stop my selfishness so I can become more like Jesus.
I hope you can learn from this as I did.. Have a good day! Blessings!
