My dad comes home from World War 11 met my mom, six weeks later they married. A love story, a whirl wind romance that never stopped he still loves her to this day even though she is in heaven. Oh, he married a second time, they had a loving relationship but my mom the love of his life. If there is such a thing, my mom would have been his soul mate.
Many couples use the words from 1 Corinthians 13 in their marriage vows. Sermons preached on the verses focus on love.
Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-5
Have you ever had your buttons pushed? Then you say things that are not kind, actually the words rude. When I was younger my husband and I argued, I had a record of wrongs in my mind. All the things we are not supposed to do, when all was done, I was wrong, and I apologized.
Forgiveness is the key, walk in forgiveness. keep a short list of wrongs, our verse says love keeps no records of wrongs. With love one can choose to forgive and let the person off your hook and let them be on God’s hook. God is the only fair judge.
Jesus in Bethany shares of a woman who demonstrates her love by anointing his head with a very expensive perfume in Matthew 26: 6-13 and he praises her to the disciples for her gift of love.
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you,a but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
So the Apostle Paul concludes this love chapter with this powerful verse.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
My parents struggled at times but they definitely were in love. Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment involves love:
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37-38
Beloved, how are you doing in your relationships? Do you need to forgive someone? Is there someone you need to tell that you love them? Do you need to accept Jesus’ love?
Life Lesson: Jesus loves you and I do too.
Song: Jesus Loves Me by Chris Tomlin
Father God, We love God because you first loved us, you are love, you are hope, you are mercy, and grace. I have faith in you. Thank you for the example of my parents who demonstrated love. Lord our world is in a mess and we need people to love their neighbors. Lord, I ask if there is anyone who needs love would they reach out to me. For the helpless, there is hope, for the one who is struggling, may you increase their faith and answer their prayer and send blessings. I pray for those without jobs would you send favor and blessings. Help them find work. Lord our country is in unrest, would you protect us. Protect those displaced from the hurricane. Lord let each one of us demonstrate love. In Jesus’ name Amen
