October 21, 2011
Love
Today’s Thought:
“Love like virtue, is its own reward.” – John Vanbrugh
Today’s Quote:
“Love is above all, the gift of oneself.” – Jean Anouilh
Today’s Question:
Doesn’t it seem somewhat logical that: “If you would be loved, {you should} love and be loveable?” – Benjamin Franklin
Today’s Bible Verses: 1 John 4:7-11, 1 Colossians 3:14 & Matthew 5:43-44
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
And above all these things put on charity {love}, which is the bond of perfectness.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Today’s Spiritual Thought:
“Love never claims, it ever gives" – Mohandas K. Gandhi
We are each born with the need to love and be loved.
Sadly, as time passes and life sometimes takes its toll: many find it harder to give love and some find it hard to receive love. This must break God’s heart. “He who love touches not walks in darkness.” – Plato
As Christians we know we are to love God unconditionally. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” – The Bible (Deuteronomy 6:5)
And we also know we are to love each other. “…Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” – The Bible (Matthew 19:19)
So why do we find it so hard to love the way God intends for us too?
“Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” – Robert A Heinlein
It seems our society has taught us to be so selfish and self absorbed that many find it difficult to value the happiness of others as being either more important or at least as important as our own. Again, I believe this breaks God’s heart.
Aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t put his comfort, happiness and well-being before His love for His Father and their love for us? If He had: He probably would not have gone to the cross in our place.
As Christians we need to return to our first love: the one who gave His all for us. And we need to recall and reflect on how greatly and immensely we are loved and we need to love others in like kind.
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity {love}, these three; but the greatest of these is charity {love}.” – The Bible (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Today’s Prayer:
Father, I know how much you love me and for that I am in awe and ever grateful: help me to love others the way I am loved.
“All you need is love.”
– John Lennon
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