Wednesday, May 5, 2010

God is Love



Have you ever entered into a relationship where those three words, I love you are spoken and no sooner than you utter them, secrets pop out from nowhere? Do you wonder why that is?

When you use the term love you are actually calling on God.

Why?

God is love. God is truth. God is the light.

When love is spoken, the truth and the light peeks through darkness. When you open your heart and reveal that you love someone, you are calling on God without even knowing it. You don’t have to recognize or acknowledge Him for Him to exist. He just does.

For a moment, let’s forget what the television, media, jewelry commercials and Valentine’s Day advertisements say is the definition of love. To really understand love, you must go to the source.

The Word of God/The Bible

Love is

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1-3

Without love, we have nothing. If we think of love and are reminded that God is love and truth then that would imply that without God and truth, we have nothing. We can give everything we have to the poor, but if we do out of obligation or for recognition and without love, it’s pointless. Love should be our motivating factor.

“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.” 4-7

When God is invited in, of course being the truth and light, things will be revealed and your love will be tested. If someone is telling you lies, God will reveal it because you called on Him. If they are avoiding, hiding, covering up or with holding truth, that is the same as lying. Love protects, trusts and rejoices in truth, not lies.

God = Truth
Devil = Lies

Love is patient. No rushing, no guessing, no anxiety and no worries. It doesn’t seek itself, it’s wants to give, nurture and provide; not take, with hold or have ulterior motives. It does not envy or boast; always wanting to see if the grass is greener on the other side or walk around bragging with pride because you have it and others don’t. It doesn’t live in and throw up the past over and over again instilling guilt and shame, it forgives. It doesn’t take revenge or wish misery on others when wronged or hurt. Over time it heals, restores and looks forward to the future. It is not easily angered, looking for an argument or keeping one going. It doesn't compete, it compliments. It does not throw temper tantrums nor is it violent. It is not superficial or shallow, It is humble and deep. Love is sacrificial and unconditional. True love perseveres, overcoming obstacles and challenges.

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 8-9

This means of all spiritual gifts that you may have been blessed with, are useless unless you utilize them with love, a pure heart and in good cheer.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.” 10

Ok, so what if lies are uncovered and the past revealed itself. We are all sinners, right? Now what?

Love never fails. Truth never fails. When truth does reveal itself, the reaction from the offended can make the offender run from truth or hold tight to it. Truth is perfect so when it’s revealed, the imperfection starts to fade away so the offended should take a deep breath and analyze the situation and react calmly.

In the spirit, truth is the main artery to the heart. When truth is hidden, you are cutting off the blood and oxygen to the heart and it begins to weaken and then symptoms begin to appear; signs telling you that something isn’t right. When the truth is revealed, the blood rushes back to the heart and revives it. It is important to recognize the symptoms and not ignore them.

When truth is hidden it can leave permanent damage and scarring called “bitterness.” If the heart isn’t treated with patience, kindness, care and concern nursing it back to health, it will not fully heal and the problem will progressively become worse. If truth isn’t fully disclosed and only is revealed in fragments, every time the heart heals from the last attack, more lies can end up hardening the heart creating resentment. Brutal truth (light) will overpower all lies(darkness)

Attempt to think of this before you react to truth in rage. The offender will be afraid to disclose truth in the future, so it will be revealed slowly or run from it and the artery will start building up slowly deteriorating. God reveals truth, but making the offender ashamed of it will determine if you receive it all at once or in pieces. It may also make them run from truth in all other areas in their life as well.

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 11-12

Like a child means to have not reached maturity. Spiritual maturity is something you have to diligently seek and grow into overtime. You will not change over night. You have to learn to walk a new way, talk a new way and think a new way. If someone has not matured, then when it comes to love, they will be ignorant to it. As you grow older you may look in the mirror and see a man/woman in the reflection but if you have not sought truth, wisdom and knowledge, (God) your spirit is still that of a child. As you start to seek it, it will make itself known and you will then become fully known. This gives the old saying “To know me is to love me and to love me is to know me” a whole new meaning.

Loving and praying for your enemies is also calling on God. God is truth but He is also just. If you consult God with your conflicts, He will bring justice to the situation. Attempt to leave revenge in the hands that it belongs; The Lords alone. Not only will He settle the conflict, but you will also be blessed for your obedience.

Before you tell someone that you love them, ask yourself, Am I prepared for truth to be revealed? Can I handle the truth? Am I spiritually mature or am I still that of a child? This doesn’t just apply to romantic relationships, it applies to all relationships, whether good or bad.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 13

Without love, hope and faith are lonely. They need love to survive. God is love and truth instills hope and faith. Without the clear and concise understanding of love, you cannot give it nor can you receive it and before you can give or receive it, you must seek it. Jesus, in His words said it best.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33

With love, your humble servant of Christ,

Katrina Green
President
Butterfly Ministries, Inc.

Take a Stand. Spread the Word. Save the Butterflies ♥


"It is the mission of Butterfly Ministries, Inc. to empower and inspire positive transformation in girls and young women by encouraging them to take a stand against gender exploitation and to give rise to a historic revolution."

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1 comment:

  1. This is really beautiful Katrina! Thank you for being so wonderful and sharing your light with everyone! xoxo

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