I remember celebrating Valentine's Day in elementary school. I won the prize for the most eloquently fashioned Valentine's box, complete with pink satin and garnished with candied red hots. The school day convened with an entourage of homeroom mothers giving out sprinkled cookies. At a young age I was groomed well in the virtue of love.
But I've recently been challenged with another life lesson concerning the motif of love. It's this: It's easy giving love: chocolates and heart-shaped candies...but living love??? Now that's another challenge.
Paul spoke of living love to the Corinthians. Not the kind of love that would merely require an emotion for the good of self, but the kind of love that would require a sacrifice for the good of others: agape love.
So how can I "live" love and rise above the petty things of life. Charity from the heart means nothing at all if it doesn't spring forth from the inside out. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 stops me dead in my tracks every time I read it. It's one of those passages that demands a candid and often times painful examination.
What is the most significant demonstration of love you can give this Valentine's season? It's passing this test: (and while you're at it, put your name in the place of the word love and notice how poignantly personal it suddenly becomes!)
Love is patient. (Pam is patient)...She can endure inconveniences or irritations without indignation. She can handle injustice with grace and is able to remain calm-spirited when wronged.
Love is kind. She is benevolent toward others. She not only seizes opportunities to be helpful but searches for them by preferring the welfare and satisfaction of others.
Love is not jealous. She is not insolent over the good fortune of another nor does she want what she doesn't have. Others' blessings by God only add to her personal joy.
Love is not conceited. She does not think more highly of herself than she ought. She recognizes any good she obtains comes solely by God's will to do so.
Love does not behave unbecomingly. She displays courtesy without censuring the conduct of others. Her earthly assignment is to showcase what God looks like.
Love is not easily exasperated. She's able through the Holy Spirit's enablement to restrain from lashing out or exerting a sharpness of temper.
Love thinks no evil. She is not inclined to charge a guilty verdict upon another. The sins of others bring her grief not sport or delight.
Love rejoices in the truth. She's glad to see others conform to the instruction of God's Word and desires for her own life to be shaped by it.
Love bears all things. She puts up with injuries without indulging in gossip or cherishing revenge. She does not publish the faults, shame, and reproach of others.
Love hopes all things. She believes and hopes well. She stretches her faith while hearing these words in the distance: "Well done thy good and faithful servant."
Christlike love! It's an abiding kindness that works from the inside out! Oh dear friends, let's dress ourselves in it. It's our all purpose garment that proves we're daughters of the King!
Lovin' you,
Pam
See Pam's blog about a true story of self sacrificing love - "Siamese Sisters' Love" http://www.pamkanaly.com
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