Loves Check List
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:3-6
“All you need is love, all you need is love, love is all you need” the words to a Beatles song.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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.” 1Corinthians 13:4-8a the words of the Apostle Paul.
All of scripture comes down to one word “LOVE”
Love is the central theme of the gospel. It is only when we have love for God, our fellow man and ourselves that we can truly do the work Christ has given us.
There is no such thing as half way with God’s Love.
Eddie Cantor an actor once said, “Love isn’t like a reservoir. You’ll never drain it dry. It is more like a natural spring. The longer and farther that it flows, the stronger and deeper and clearer it becomes.”
That being said the love of God has flowed from the beginning of time. It is as pure as pure can be.
It is the love of Christ that motivated the early apostles. It is that same love that motivates true Christians today.
That is why followers of Christ from the day of Pentecost to the present do what they do, present the word of God to all creation.
That is why many endure persecution of every type, from simple verbal abuse, to being thrown into prison to death.
Christians know they have a message that must be heard by the world. God’s message of Love and forgiveness.
You cannot be a Christian and hate even one person. To hate even one person no matter how vile they may be is not in keeping with God’s love. Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48
No matter how much we hate what a person does we must still love the person.
Paul’s description of love is really a check list for pure love. It is a check list every believer need’s to look at frequently and see how they stack up. To see if they truly love.
Take a few minutes now to have an honest look at the words of Paul’s check list for love and see how you stack up.
Love’s Check list,
Love is Patient,
Love is Kind,
It does no envy,
It does not boast,
It is not proud,
It is not rude,
It is not self-seeking,
It is not easily angered,
It keep no record of wrongs,
Love does not delight in evil,
It rejoices in the truth,
It always protects,
It always trusts,
It always hopes,
It always perseveres,
Love never fails,
Where do you stand? Is the love you show to others a stream or reservoir?
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