I did not intend to write a
second part to my blog on love but it provoked a few questions so I thought to
share my response without indicating the questions. Let me start by stating
that “like” is different from “love”. According to Webster, like is to have an
inclination or preference for or for something to please you. It is to regard
something favorably or feel affection for or enjoy being with someone or
something. This seems to be the basis upon which the world’s definition of love
is founded. So definition of love by the world is a stronger version of like
and a far cry from the love God is.
1 Corinthians 13:
13 “And so faith, hope, love abide (faith-conviction and belief respecting
man’s relation to God and divine things; hope-joyful and confident expectation
of eternal salvation; love-true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s
love for us), these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
The love that God is and we have experienced
has character; it is deep and strong. That is the love God wants us to express.
It is instinctive to us as believers and is without prejudice. It flows from
inside us. We don’t have to be friends to love people; we love them even
without knowing them, because we see them through the eyes of God and feel
about them, the way God feels. This is true love which cannot be faked and is
also very different from being nice. This love lives in us and is only
expressed through us. It would be impossible for man, given his nature and the
state of his heart, to truly love in this way without God in Him. This love is
too sincere and pure to come to man naturally. It takes a life transforming
conviction to have and express this love. It takes a spiritual man to express it.
1 Corinthians 13: 7
– 8 “Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to
believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all
circumstances, and it endures everything (without weakening). Love never fails
(never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end).
Don’t tell me you love when you
are in unhealthy competition, which by the way is jealousy and/or envy, with another;
and sometimes the other party is unaware of the fact that you are in
competition with them as a result of which you are doing all you can to ruin
them. Love makes one mannerly even if they were unruly. It restrains one from
seeking attention so desperately even to the extent of wickedly expelling
another because they want their place. You cannot claim to love and yet be so
vindictive and your great excuse is that you are angry. Though the word of God
allows us the right to be angry yet it says we must not sin despite anger. There is no justification for being
vindictive; it is vile and cannot operate in a vessel that carries love. Some
things just naturally die when God comes into a person. God kind of love is who
you are and not a feeling you express to some only.
1 Corinthians 13: 5
– 6 “It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride): it is not rude
(unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not
insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not
touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it (it
pays no attention to a suffered wrong). It does not rejoice at injustice and
unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.”
God has not asked us to like
people but has taken it to another realm by asking that we love. Love is God
and all He is asking is that we express His nature. This love is despite our
feeling; it is a way of life – The God way of life. If you say you love, does
your love have this character? The more excellent way has character and gives
one a great personality, taking one to a realm where godly honor just comes
upon them. Is that the love we express? The Holy Spirit is every ready to help
us if we find we fall short.
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