LOVE

008 – APRIL 2004

LOVE

COL 3:14 “AND ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS PUT ON LOVE, WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTNESS.”

EVERY MORNING I REMIND MYSELF OF MY PURPOSE FOR LIVING. I SPEAK IT OUT LOUD. I SOMETIMES SAY IT MORE THAN ONCE, “CHRIS, REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE - TO LOVE AND TO SERVE. DON’T FORGET IT.”
IT’S A VERY IMPORTANT TIME OF MY MORNING MEDITATION BECAUSE I KNOW THE STRENGTH OF MY OLD SELF-CENTERED NATURE. (IN 1976, I WAS GIVEN A NEW NATURE.)
ANYHOW, I BLEW IT YESTERDAY. I GOT OVER ZEALOUS IN MY EFFORT TO PROTECT SOME FOLKS AND MY COMMENTS BECAME A BIT HARSH. IN FACT - I SURE PUT HIM IN HIS PLACE. EVERYTHING SEEMED SO IMPORTANT AT THE TIME AND I EVEN USED A BIT OF OLD NATURE SARCASM TO “MAKE MY POINT.” IN TRUTH, I WAS SIMPLY ACTING LIKE AN ARROGANT BLOAT.

AFTER YOU EMERGE FROM THIS TYPE OF FLESHY THING AND GOD HELPS YOU TO VIEW IT IN IT’S PROPER PERSPECTIVE … YOU SHOULD FEEL LOUSY ABOUT IT. NOW, YOU WILL HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE MESS YOU MADE. YOU WISH THAT YOU COULD JUST GO BACK AND DO IT OVER … MAYBE JUST KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
APOLOGIES, REPENTANCE AND SOME SOUL SEARCHING ARE ALL PART OF THE REDEMPTIVE PACKAGE THAT YOU KNOW IS NECESSARY.

I COR 13:5 “ (LOVE) DOES NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY, SEEKS NOT HER OWN, IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED, THINKS NO EVIL:”
THE LIVING BIBLE SAYS “… DOES NOT DEMAND IT’S OWN WAY.” OUCH!!! COULD THAT BE THE ROOT TO ALL OF OUR CONTENTION AND CHILDISH DEBATE? … THAT WE HAVE MISPLACED LOVE AND ARE DEMANDING OUR OWN WAY? I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT.

1 COR 13:1 “THOUGH I SPEAK WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN AND ANGELS, AND HAVE NOT LOVE, 1 AM BECOME AS A SOUNDING BRASS OR A TINKLING CYMBAL.”
BEEN THERE!!!

1 COR 13:4 “LOVE SUFFERS LONG, AND IS KIND; LOVE ENVIES NOT; LOVE VAUNTS NOT ITSELF, IS NOT PUFFED UP.”
YOU MIGHT AS WELL FIND YOUR BIBLE AND GO READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER. INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT (AN INVOCATION) TO HELP YOU SEE THINGS IN A NEW WAY. TAKE YOUR TIME. THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND MEDITATE ON THE THOUGHTS YOU WILL RECEIVE.

BE SOFT HEARTED. AVOID CONTENTION. LOVE ONE ANOTHER. APOLOGIZE. DO NOT DEMAND YOUR OWN WAY. WRITE SOMEONE A NICE LOVE LETTER. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE … THANK GOD THAT HE CAN HELP YOU TO BE AN EXTENSION OF HIS LOVE. HAVE IT BE THE #1 PURPOSE OF YOUR EXISTENCE.

“CHRIS, REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE – TO LOVE AND TO SERVE. DON’T FORGET IT.”