Love

I do not expect to say something that noone else has written about love. But I do know that God wants me to be more loving. Here are some commonly looked at scriptures to meditate on.

I Corinthians 13:4-7
When I reviewed this easily recognized portion of scripture about love, the first thing I noticed was that all of these things were attitudes or actions that I should have when dealing with others. Then I noticed something big: what was missing. No where in this description of love is there a starry night, a moonlit walk on the beach or a picnic in a flowery meadow. Not found were discussions of goose bumps, fireworks or chemistry. In fact, feelings were neglected entirely. This description of love was entirely about how to treat others!! It discusses forgiveness, anger, truth, loyalty, trust - generally putting another's well-being in front of your own. Consistently valuing someone else more highly than yourself. Self-centeredness has no place in this kind of love.
So, real love makes you put others before yourself. You become less self-centered.


Colossians 3:12-14
Okay, not the most common scripture when talking about love. Oh, well. But this little bit of instruction sets one high standard of conduct. This says we should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. It says that we should expect our friends, enemies - everyone - to wrong us - AND be prepared ahead of time to forgive. No matter what the offense.
These are all really good standards. Now, imagine I did all that stuff without love. If you attempt to be compassionate, kind and humble without love, that fruit simply dries up, becomes hard and dies. We have all been around people whose manners are very sweet and polite while ruining all of those fine manners with a haughty attitude. They are more annoying than the guy on the street who is just downright rude!!
But clothe yourself in love - and all your attributes look even better. Clothe your gifts in love and you are transformed into an ambassador bringing God's light into bastiens of darkness.
Imagine a fantastic singer. The best voice you have ever heard. But everytime they are not singing, they are full of self-centeredness, bad attitudes and divisiveness.
Now imagine a merely proficient singer with a nice voice. Maybe not even the best you personally know, but good. This singer, though, is exceedingly kind, gentle and loving. Who do you prefer to listen to?
The other good qualities that God has given you are like boxcars on a train. Love is the engine that delivers them where they need to go. Without it, your other good stuff isn't helping anyone, and you are just in the way.
If you notice that your other good qualities are not being put to good use, maybe you need to clothe them in love.

John 15:13
John is the love gospel. No kidding - John does not even refer to himself as 'John'. He refers to himself as 'the disciple that Jesus loved.' Now, John isn't trying to separate himself from the others by saying that Jesus loved him more!! No, it is just that Jesus' transforming love re-defined how John saw HIMSELF!! John was no longer simply John, his identity was wrapped up in the all surpassing love of Christ.
So, when this Gospel of love has Jesus himself defining the greatest love, I will sit up and pay attention. "Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for his friends."
People so easily give up on love. This scripture tells me that real love is going to cost me something. If you are going to make a commitment to love truly, to love deeply, it will cost you. Loving means sacrifice.
People say "we just don't love each other anymore" or "we just fell out of love." They believe that because their feelings have changed this gives them the right to stop loving. How small! How boring! To use this as an excuse for severing a relationship is tragic. If this is my normal procedure, I will never have a lasting, meaningful relationship.
After your sacrifical love elevates your relationship out of a difficult time, the relationship is changed into a stronger bond. After these tests, confidence and hope really bloom.
Love costs you something. Loving means sacrifice.

I John 4:7,8
I cannot expound. Loving means knowing God. Without love, you do not know Him.