Love

I thought it would be appropriate to write about love on Valentines Day.
As I reflect on what it means to love I realize that I'm pretty bad at it. To say that I always show love without expecting anything back would not be a  true statement. It is a daily thing to deny myself and honestly love my neighbor as myself. It is in us to make sure we are good and it is also in our culture to make sure that we take care of ourselves. I always hear people say, you deserve it, treat yourself and you got it. I mean your aren't suppose to neglect yourself and refuse to eat but I am guilty of mixing up what is a necessity to what I want.

To me love is a word that is over used and has become way to casual. How can we expect  people to believe us when we say we love God then say we love ice cream. To me we have just down graded what love really is. We need to remember what real love is;

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8

I don't know about you but I fall short of all of theses, all the time. I mean these are some pretty impressive characteristics to posses. I did  have a new revelation about this scripture today, this is how God loves  us. I mean DUH! I always looked to this verse to figure out what I needed to improve on but totally spaced out about how perfect God's love really is.  To me this is something to dance for joy about, think about it, God loves you this way everyday!  His love never fails !

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

I pray that you discover the sacrifice of God's true love and set your eyes upon him instead of the distractions of the world. Keep on pressing into him and he promises us that he never fails.