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'Christ in You...'
by Dale Krebbs
Love Is Not:
Giving to the poor; serving in your church; paying your debts on time; making others happier; working hard, etc.
And...
"If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
Love is:
"He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. - (1 John 4:8)
"Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 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.
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]. As for prophecy the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
If we do not have these attributes, we do not have love - and we are in danger of finding ourselves in a category that Jesus describes:
"Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me..." (Matthew 7:23)
Above all, GOD is Love.
To have the love of God, He must live His love in us. Everything that is good then becomes the fruit of His love in us. Everything that is evil and false is the result of the lack of the love of God. All that is truly good is not love - it is the fruit of Love - the Love of God.
The world is dying because of the lack of the Love of God...bottom line.
Can you be part of the solution?
"Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest!" - 1 Corinthians 14:1
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