Let's talk about love. Paul wrote the passage in his letter to the Corinthians which lovers still have read at their weddings. But Paul wasn't talking about romantic love. Oh and Ruth's statement of love is read a bunch at weddings too. But she said those words to her mother in law.
Paul says before he starts his chapter 13 on love, 'And now I will show you the most excellent way.' He's saying love is better than gifts of healing or miracles or prophecies, or even self sacrifice. He says, 'but if I have not love, I am nothing.'
1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
John's whole letter talks about love. Sometimes I try to share God's love with people but I don't really love them. This just doesn't work. It's like I'm driving around in a little toy car trying to do stuff but the reality of the situation is in my heart being connected to the One great loving Heart.
J. Campbell has something cool to say about love too. Actually he's talking about the heart. He describes the heart as the organ of opening up to somebody else. It has to do with the spirit as opposed to the animal qualities of self-interest.
What are all these smart guys and gals saying? Love matters. That heart motive of opening up to another matters. There's a reality here that goes beyond 'words' as John said.
When we were praying yesterday, one person kept getting the word 'toy car' much to his confusion. Well it meant something to me. It means something to me. This life is like driving around in a little toy car which is okay because it gives us a good idea of the life that's surrounding us. There's a real Life of Love, of Spirit, of knowing God that surrounds our little toy car lives.
Here's what John says so beautifully...
1 John
4:7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
4:9
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
4:11
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
4:13
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
4:15
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
4:17
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Oh I want to live in that love, I want to share it, I want to be complete in His Love even if I am driving in a little toy car.
Paul says before he starts his chapter 13 on love, 'And now I will show you the most excellent way.' He's saying love is better than gifts of healing or miracles or prophecies, or even self sacrifice. He says, 'but if I have not love, I am nothing.'
1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
John's whole letter talks about love. Sometimes I try to share God's love with people but I don't really love them. This just doesn't work. It's like I'm driving around in a little toy car trying to do stuff but the reality of the situation is in my heart being connected to the One great loving Heart.
J. Campbell has something cool to say about love too. Actually he's talking about the heart. He describes the heart as the organ of opening up to somebody else. It has to do with the spirit as opposed to the animal qualities of self-interest.
What are all these smart guys and gals saying? Love matters. That heart motive of opening up to another matters. There's a reality here that goes beyond 'words' as John said.
When we were praying yesterday, one person kept getting the word 'toy car' much to his confusion. Well it meant something to me. It means something to me. This life is like driving around in a little toy car which is okay because it gives us a good idea of the life that's surrounding us. There's a real Life of Love, of Spirit, of knowing God that surrounds our little toy car lives.
Here's what John says so beautifully...
1 John
4:7
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
4:9
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
4:11
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
4:13
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
4:15
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
4:17
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Oh I want to live in that love, I want to share it, I want to be complete in His Love even if I am driving in a little toy car.
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