Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have
love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2If
I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I
have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if
I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

• Watching a couple holding hands while giving thanks to God for their breakfast.
• Re-writing a song about forgiveness.
• Thinking about the conversation I had with Hannah and Chris in the truck while going home.
• Listening to "All for love" and "Sing (Your Love)" from my iPod.

These are the combos this morning that almost brought me to tears. Those who know knows that although I am very emotional and passionate about my faith, I seldom use sentimental words to stir others. I am more "puritan" and "brimestone and fire" kind. However those combos I mentioned kept one word in my mind - love. I was so puffed up with a lovey-dovy-fluffy-cloudy feeling.

It was nice.

(ok, the greek has about 4 different word rendered as "love" in the english bible, pls pardon me from going into specifics, I am definitely not talking about "Eros" not now at least)

Thank God for such feelings while it last. In the real world true love exist in Christ Jesus despite all the counterfeits. Unless God's love breaks through our hardened hearts, we will never be able to experience love in any deep and meaningful way. We are made to love, yet we are utterly short of our intended glory no matter how hard we try. But Jesus said that he is "the way, the truth and the life." Everything that we lack is found in Him To experience God's ultimate love, His agape love, we need to be in Him. To be in Him is to love Him. To love Him is to love others. What a great way it is for others to know that we are believers in Christ because of our love for each other! If fellowship means to "tune our focus to God with other", to fellowship is also to love. When we do that we edify others and become an extention of Christ's hand in loving them.

In this world where hatred seems to grow
True love goes against the flow
And becomes so hard to show
In this world push turns in to shove
We have strength to rise above
Through the power of His love
Lord, we need to know the power of Your love

- "Love" by Petra, from the album "Beyond Belief".