Love Part 1

Part 1 of Love

The other day I was with my wife on a date. We were talking about the usual, kids, Ministry, life in Africa, how much we love each other, etc... My wife asked me the same question that she often asks, “Do you know that I love you?” My response was as usual, “yes I do, do you know I Love you?”
She said Yes then asked me, “what do you love about me?” I am sorry, that is as much of the conversation as you are going to get. The rest is between us.
But I will say this, that conversation started my mind on a path that I would like to share with you.

Love, what is Love? There are in fact several padded answers for that one. Some would say, well it depends on who you ask. Love can be interpreted in many ways. What love is for one person could be looked at differently by another. Of course there are scores of books on the subject of “Love”, all with there opinions of what it looks like. Magazines full of articles and self helps to help you find that perfect “Love”... I don't know about any of that. I am far from being a specialist on it. I don't think it is a subject though... or at least I don't look at it as that. There are “love” stories.
But Love, in fact is a verb, meaning it is full of action. That is at least what I learned in school, that verbs are action words. Unfortunately Man as raped it, molested it, and abused it until it now looks nothing like it's original form. It has taken on an entirely different face and shape. No wounder people are so confused about “love”, because what they are getting is the new and NOT improved version.

Here are a few words and phrases that are connected now to our so called “love”; Touchy; feely; but I thought you loved me; if you love me then you would or would not; I just don't love him/her any more; I feel in love; I fell out of love; it's time to look out for me; he/she makes me feel loved again.
The list can go on and on.

I have heard these things and things like them all to often. With this warped misconception of love, it does not surprise me about the high percent of the divorce rate.

I have had this word “Love” running through my head non stop with these questions attached to it.
WHAT IS IT? DO I REALLY HAVE IT?
To answer these questions I am going to go through what I think is the oldest and greatest definition of the word “LOVE” The Bible, 1 Corinthians, 13: 1-13.

Lets begin with verses 1-3

1. 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. 2. 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. 3. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

As I shared above this all started with the conversation that I had with my wife but did not end there by no means. This is the beginning of the path. I will now share what I have been getting through this study that the Lord is taking me through. My thoughts as well as my challenges.

Verses 1-3 spoke loud and clear!!! In my words, “It doesn't matter who I am or who I become, what I do or what I obtain. If I don't have LOVE I gain nothing. So what ever I do I better make sure that my life's goal is LOVE!”

Stay tuned next week for part 2