After spending years, giving up on love, experiencing heartbreak over heartbreak by boyfriends, family members, church family or just regular friends and associates I've realized that when I claim to love someone, including myself, there is something that is required of me to first demonstrate it to myself and then to someone else and once that's done only then will I finally experience what "real love" is truly about and it's all about doing an evaluation of myself.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 explains it a little better. 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 proud, 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.
Now if after really meditating on all of the attributes of love that is described in this scripture, I quickly came to realize that all of them have to do with something that is required of me. So from now on when I claim to love myself or someone else, I have to quickly do a self check and ask myself am I truly going to be patient and kind to myself and him/her? Will I choose not to be envious, rude, boastful, proud or selfish with myself as well as him/her? Or be easily angered with myself or by him/her? In addition will I always protect and trust myself and him/her? Keep no record of wrongs as in always bringing up the past etc? And in the same breath am I demonstrating these attributes to God who I claim to "love"? Am I being patient with Him? Kind to him by being obedient to His word, pleasing Him in all that I do etc? And if I'm not willing to honestly answer these questions and actually demonstrate these attributes of love, am I really loving myself, this person or God or am I just acting out of an emotion that goes and comes, calling it love? It's worth asking yourself these questions and do your own self check in whatever relationship you're in to find out where you or the other person involved lack in giving and experiencing true love first for oneself and then for the other person.
The ULTIMATE LOVE
When I think about God and His love for me, 1 Cor 13 briefly yet perfectly explains the kind of love that He has for me and I believe that He wouldn't put it in His word unless we are required to demonstrate those same attributes to whoever we claim to "love" so how about we all make that first step by demonstrating the acts of true love today.
(c) Lorraine Benjamin 2010
Lorraine B
- Lorraine B
- Hello and welcome to a place of Spiritual Refuge. A place where you can come and meditate on the word of God as it encourages and empowers you to live on top of the world everyday. I've always had a passion for writing ever since I was a child. Now I'm an adult I've decided to allow God to use one of the many gifts he's given me to encourage and create a place of spiritual refuge for the discouraged, broken hearten and those who at times feel they have no hope. I thank God for all of the gifts that he has given me and my greatest intent is for me to give them back to him by using them for his Glory. Enjoy, be encouraged and inspired. Lorraine B :)
No comments:
Post a Comment