And now abide faith, hope, love, but the greatest of these is love.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)
Yesterday we celebrated Valentine's Day, a special day when we appreciate the love and affection that our wife or husband gives and receives from us. While it has been cheapened in recent years by so many external forces, the attraction of a man and a woman that makes them want to be one is very powerful. It was as intended by God to both procreate humanity and to cause happiness in the special bond that this brings.
But so often we forget about other meanings of love and understanding the full purpose of that emotion and how it is critical to your well being if you seek real and eternal life can't be denied. That's why Jesus came to earth, to teach us and show us His love so that we might believe and follow Him forever. Ultimately, he suffered the most horrific of sacrifices, a God and man who took on all the suffering and pain of humanity, a gift so great that the human mind can never fully understand it.
While God certainly wants us to enjoy romantic love with that special someone, He also commands us to love one another, meaning that we should love all people regardless of who they are and what they do. That doesn't mean that we must concur with their sinful nature, but it doesn't mean that we have to always carry forgiveness in our heart. That's sometimes a very difficult thing to do but it is what He expects since the principal reason for Jesus' time on earth was to offer the ultimate gift from God. By giving His life for us, He provided the opportunity to all of humanity to live eternally. His forgiveness of all sins and the opportunity for Salvation came on the Cross. But there is a catch. For us to take advantage of his most generous offer we must believe in and follow Him, and that means living our life for Him, which in turn means living with love in our hearts always.
You can't love anyone else the way He desires unless you love yourself first, which means that you open your heart to the Holy Spirit so that you can commune with Him. And once you do, you are a changed person and you will want to live with love, throwing away hate and anger. That's the secret to Eternal Life. It's your choice and your decision through the free will that God gave us. Are you ready to give yourself to Him and experience the Joy of God's world, both here and in the hereafter? Think about that and pray on its meaning, for without that decision you will be missing the most wondrous existence of all.
Put God first in your life, listen to the Holy Spirit tell you how to effectively live for Christ, for only through Him can you reach the Kingdom of Heaven. May the Good Lord bless you and keep you always.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)
Yesterday we celebrated Valentine's Day, a special day when we appreciate the love and affection that our wife or husband gives and receives from us. While it has been cheapened in recent years by so many external forces, the attraction of a man and a woman that makes them want to be one is very powerful. It was as intended by God to both procreate humanity and to cause happiness in the special bond that this brings.
But so often we forget about other meanings of love and understanding the full purpose of that emotion and how it is critical to your well being if you seek real and eternal life can't be denied. That's why Jesus came to earth, to teach us and show us His love so that we might believe and follow Him forever. Ultimately, he suffered the most horrific of sacrifices, a God and man who took on all the suffering and pain of humanity, a gift so great that the human mind can never fully understand it.
While God certainly wants us to enjoy romantic love with that special someone, He also commands us to love one another, meaning that we should love all people regardless of who they are and what they do. That doesn't mean that we must concur with their sinful nature, but it doesn't mean that we have to always carry forgiveness in our heart. That's sometimes a very difficult thing to do but it is what He expects since the principal reason for Jesus' time on earth was to offer the ultimate gift from God. By giving His life for us, He provided the opportunity to all of humanity to live eternally. His forgiveness of all sins and the opportunity for Salvation came on the Cross. But there is a catch. For us to take advantage of his most generous offer we must believe in and follow Him, and that means living our life for Him, which in turn means living with love in our hearts always.
You can't love anyone else the way He desires unless you love yourself first, which means that you open your heart to the Holy Spirit so that you can commune with Him. And once you do, you are a changed person and you will want to live with love, throwing away hate and anger. That's the secret to Eternal Life. It's your choice and your decision through the free will that God gave us. Are you ready to give yourself to Him and experience the Joy of God's world, both here and in the hereafter? Think about that and pray on its meaning, for without that decision you will be missing the most wondrous existence of all.
Put God first in your life, listen to the Holy Spirit tell you how to effectively live for Christ, for only through Him can you reach the Kingdom of Heaven. May the Good Lord bless you and keep you always.
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