Tuesday, 07 August 2012
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Choose to Love
Love -- that word that is too often thrown around like it's something we really know or understand. To be honest, I'm still trying to figure out that word and what it means.It's not what the world shows, with it being veiled between two lovers with all the passion that it may contain, but rather something deeper and more important.
I've realized one major thing in my life thus far: that Love is a choice. We choose to Love. It requires not only a choice, but also an action.
Let's take a look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - New International Version (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Looking closely we must realize what love truly is: it is a verb. It requires action to enable it's content to truly be recognized.
Love is.... that alone speaks volumes. It defines something that requires thought and consideration.
But what does Love in action mean?
I remember when I first chose to live a Christian life. I remember that God loves me in spite of my own failings.
This means that he is forever patient with me, and treats me with kindness. He doesn't boast or is prideful in himself, and there's no reason for Him to be envious. He doesn't dishonor others or is self-seeking - after all He came as a servant to show us what love means. He wasn't easily angered, and he keeps no record of wrongs. He doesn't delight in evil but rejoices with the Truth. He protects us, trusts us, has hope for us, and perseveres.
Where have I failed in love?
I have lost patience and wasn't always kind to others. I have shown I've been envious of others and talk to anyone who knows me that at times I've been full of pride and tend to boast. I'm guilty of self-seeking and at times get easily angered. Of course I try not to keep a record of wrongs - but I've failed miserably in that as well. I have tolerated and sometimes laughed at what some are called evil things and have at times rejected truth. I've failed in protecting those I care for, I tend not to trust some people, I have lost hope at times and struggle with perseverance.
Now how many of us all have failed in love? How many times have we chastised others for their lack of compassion, or the way they live? I'm sure we all have failed.
We may not agree with how people live their lives -- or condone certain behaviors -- but the reality is we must still love them.
The action of love shouldn't and doesn't mean we provide justification for someone else's behavior. We should love someone in spite of their actions.
It doesn't require an apology either, we should love someone in spite of their actions against us. It doesn't require a condition of someone else's actions, rather it requires the person to choose love.
Love builds people up, it shows them what is right above what is wrong. It remains in spite of all of our failings, and encourages us when we do fail.
It heals hurts, it overcomes struggles. Love conquers all.
I submit therefore to choose love.
When have you chosen to love? Is there someone you show love to that other people might not? Who is the most difficult person to love?
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Comments (18)
I actually don't believe in love at all. There is absolutely no evidence that love exists (in much the same way there is no evidence that god/gods exist). Yeah, there are a few people I can put up with and that I enjoy their company (and I'll even go so far as to say I care about them), but love is just, well, more than likely not real.
Thank you for sharing, nice write.....and yes love exists
.
peace
mark
I definetely have a problem with love because I keep score of all the bad things that people do to me and expect them to be punished. It's hard for me to believe in your God because I want justice towards those who tresspassed against me. I am probably wrong for this, but feel that I can't help it. I have let go of some of my anger. Still there is alot of it brewing deep inside of me. I can admit that I have shortcomings though. I am not a God. I will never be perfect. I don't trust people or any God at this point. I wish that I could. I have just been let down so much that I'm discouraged. I respect the fact that you have your faith and do not wish to trample on it. I just wanted to let you know that I have my failings too.
I don't know about everyone else but I have no control over who I love or by how much, it seems out of my control and not much of a choice. Maybe I have terrible emotional discipline.
Chik-fil-A could learn a thing or two from this post. LOL
It has always intrigued me that the various ' supernatural gods of love of ' each denomination are all supposed to be the supreme epitome of all love?
However, in reality land where I dwell, I see little to sustain that, so for my records could those claiming to be at least Story book bible god believers please list all this ' love ' their god apparently manifests towards its creation and their alleged supportive evidence(s)?
I may have further questions and comments after I receive such a List!
I searched all around the world for love and didn't find it, until I opened up to the Good News message that Jesus brought.
"Herein is love: not that we loved Him, but that He loved us, and gave Himself for us..."
Love comes from a revelation of His love for us that transforms us, and gives us the
strength to love. And "LOVE" is not always about what makes us feel
good, however it always does what is best for the ultimate good, even if
it means sacrificing ourselves.
Few things bring this home to us like raising children. You gladly sacrifice your freedom and desires to see them get what they need to make it in life. "Whatever it takes" becomes the heart cry and the impetus of the responsible parent. God is a Father, to all that come to Him through His Son, Jesus.
Apart from that it's all just semantics.
I've heard it said marital love is unconditional. I don't believe that. When certain trusts are broken, we find ourselves in a situation of perhaps no longer loving that person unconditionally. It's easier to love our children unconditionally, even though it may be difficult at times. That's how I compare God's love for us, as his children. I remember the first birth, touching the baby, smelling the baby, and then, worrying that she was alright in the nursery. And when they brought her to me, having bathed her, she still had that maternal scent. That was 36 years ago, and I've still got her back, and she's got mine. The Father has our backs 24/7, if we but let him in, and ask forgiveness for feeling unkind towards another.
@LadyboyRevolution@xanga - And so could the homosexual couples who were making out in front of the establishments out of spite.
@xhalesx - Yes that looked like a waste of time. The only thing that proves is how boring and repressed the sex lives of Christians are. Not helpful.
I'm still fairly young in life, so I know I have a lot of things to learn, but I know what I feel, and whether you call it love or not, I choose to do it without want or even hope of anything in return.
It is most difficult thing to do in the world, because she doesn't love me back, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.
<3 love this post!!! A really great movie that talks about Love in a romantic sense as well as a Christian sense is Fireproof!!!!!! I love that movie. :)
good stuff.
@xhalesx - Do straight couples kissing in public bother you?
@When_We_Were_Both_Cats@xanga - It does when it's done to spite others. In this instance it was homosexual couples, and they could learn a thing or two from this article.
@Pollypinks@xanga - The only One who has ever successfully shown unconditional love is God. We can try to be unconditional, but we are human, and we're always thinking about ourselves, what we'll get out of something, and even what it will look like if we choose to show love to someone (romantically or not). But that doesn't mean we can't strive to show unconditional.
Yes, striving for unconditional love, beit marital or any other way, is the goal, and I often realize my own short comings all too well. The one that really bothers me is we are supposed to show unconditional love, but when homosexual issues come up, I hear the most vitriolic stuff one can imagine. These are all issues to be worked on.
I actually JUST wrote a blog about this... How I rebelled against the church because all I saw was hate in so-called Christians. How our greatest commandment, as Christians, is to love; yet we kill our wounded.
Where is God in that?
It wasn't until late last year that I asked God to break me and make me into who He wanted me to be. I wanted Him to teach me how to forgive, and how to love.
It's a hard lesson... SOOOO hard. And it's so hard to forgive and love others; especially when they've hurt you so bad. But it's what God wants us to do; just as He did.
Great post =)