L - O - V - E

Love--such a small word with intense meaning.  I went to Webster's for my definition.  There were many definitions for love; here are a few: unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another; strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties; a person's adoration of God

So many use I Corinthians 13 in their wedding vows--even those who are not Christian or who have no relationship with Christ.  I Corinthians says, If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  We are nothing without love...but we are incapable of loving on our own--truly loving.  Then, the part that everyone uses: 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 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. As I said, we cannot possess these qualities on our own--they are only through the Holy Spirit.

True love is sacrificial--so few understand.  Our ultimate example of love - is Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13  As a Christian one of the first verses memorized is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  I don't know about you but I have one daughter and I love her dearly.  I can't imagine sacrificing her for another.  I learned several years ago that I had to give her back to God as she was His first but to make that sacrifice to another....well I don't think I could do it.

Scripture is laced with sacrifices made to atone for our sins.  From the time that God killed the animals to provide covering to Adam and Eve through the cross blood was shed.  That, my friends, is intense love.  Now I'm not saying that you must shed blood to love but what I am saying is that for us we truly cannot love without God--we are incapable.  We love because he first loved us. I John 4:19

Thousands of songs have been written about love.  There is one song that I sing that goes like this: "We love you with the love of the Lord.....we see in you the glory of our King, yes we love you with the love of the Lord."  It makes my heart soar whenever I sing it.

God's Word is a love story from beginning to end....His great love for us--his children.  Respond to Him today with all the love that you have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW5O_Z5tMx4