Love One Another

"These things I command you, that you love one another." - John 15:17

Notice Jesus is speaking and He doesn't just suggest we love one another, He commands it! Wow!

We read this in First John 2 at verses ten and 11:
"He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

And then in First John 3:16 and 17:
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

I want my eyes open to see and be aware of every opportunity God sends my way to love on others, how about you? I want to know Him. I want to know His love - His love so powerful and forgiving. I want to show that same love He has for me to others. Shouldn't we all? That's what we read in His Word today.

Never forget it, to love. Let us always remember to love one another with the God kind of love we receive.

Love Never Fails

"Love suffers long, having patience with imperfect people. Love is kind, active in doing good. Love does not envy; since it is non-possessive and non-competitive, it actually wants other people to get ahead. Hence it does not parade itself. Love has a self-effacing quality; it is not ostentatious. Love is not puffed up, treating others arrogantly; it does not behave rudely, but displays good manners and courtesy. Love does not seek its own, insisting on its own rights and demanding precedence; rather, it is unselfish. Love is not provoked; it is not irritable or touchy, rough or hostile, but is graceful under pressure. Love thinks no evil; it does not keep an account of wrongs done to it; instead, it erases resentments. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, finding satisfaction in the shortcomings of others and spreading an evil report; rather, it rejoices in the truth, aggressively advertising the good. Love bears all things, defending and holding other people up. Love believes the best about others, credits them with good intentions, and is not suspicious. Love hopes all things, never giving up on people, but affirming their future. Love endures all things, persevering and remaining loyal to the end." *

Love never fails.

* Taken from The Spirit Filled Life Bible at I Corinthians 13:4-7.

Show and Tell ~ Love in Action

Remember back in grade school when you took something to show and tell? What comes first? The action. You take something to show and then you tell about it. There is a difference. When you show someone you are modeling or displaying it; causing it to be seen. When you tell something you are speaking about it; using your words with your mouth. For show and tell in grade school the two went together very well for showing the class a favorite of yours and as you did you were telling about it.

With love it works the same way. We first must show it. We put our love in action. With our action we then speak "I love you." People don't believe us when they just hear the words as much as they will believe us when we first show our love in action. Often it's the little things we do that speak louder than any words. These two, show and tell, will work well for you in any relationship if you first remember to display and model your love before telling... here's a little secret: when you show your love you may not even have to tell it, they'll already know it! But... it doesn't hurt to say it any way.

I Corinthians 13

Loving Others

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:34-35

The standard of Jesus is to love others. This love of Jesus you show to others is your witness to a world that needs Him desperately.

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." - Philipians 2:3

Go ahead, go show the world that you're a Christian!

For the Love of God

What have you set your affections on?
Where do you place your love?
To what do you give your love?

Don't set your affections on, or live your life for those things that feed your fleshy desires, or that appeal to your greediness. Don't let envy take over. Don't let pride or arrogance in. Don't allow anything in your life that will lessen even a little bit your love for God. Worship and adore Him, giving your life a service to Him, and be completely devoted to Him. He is worthy of your love.

"And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all you mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment." - Mark 12:30

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul... " - Deuteronomy 10:12

Oh, to be Loved

Have that same old feeling as you rise up today? A feeling of being unloved? Unwanted? Unloveable? In moods like that we have to remember we are walking by faith and not sight or feelings or moods. It is so important to turn to the Word and open our Bible and see what God has said to us - there is so much contained in His Word - today we focus on a part of love - His love - for you are loved by your Father. You mustn't ever forget that. It is His love that matters especially when no one else notices or shows you love - you will know the love of God.

"And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." - I John 4:16 (NKJ)

"God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us." - I John 4:17 (The Message)

II Corinthians 5:7

Bend One More Time

Have you ever felt like you have been used and abused just a little too much for one day? One morning? One hour? Life has simply pulled you apart and you've done all the twisting, bending, turning and mending from this or that that you can do? I have an added beatitude I remember during those time. Let me share it with your today...

BLESSED are the FLEXIBLE for they SHALL NOT GET BENT OUT OF SHAPE!

So, bend, twist, turn one more time for Jesus!

Matthew 5:1-12