Friday, 01 August 2008

• A Christ-Like Attitude - True Love

  God's been doing a very great work in my heart.  On August 16th, I will have been a Christian for 15 years, and yet never before have I truly sought to make myself worthy of Him.  I've been the "church Christian" for too long.  I'd go to church and that would been my God time for the week.  I never led a particularly sinful life... in fact I have a pretty boring life by worldly standards.  However, I've been drifting away from Him; only half heartedly fighting the pull the world has on my heart.  This is what I read during my Bible study yesterday.  I think these few verses sum up the attitudes we should... no, MUST show in our lives. 

  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." Galatians 5:22-23  Good fruit only grows on a healthy tree.  These 9 things should show in our lives as a result of a healthy relationship with our Father.  Note that love comes first. 

  "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

  "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."  1 Corinthians 13:4-8   This is THE definition for love.  I once read somewhere a good method for practicing this in our daily lives.  It said to treat it like Russian nesting dolls.  Open up the first one and all the others are inside.  It said to practice being patient first, then being kind would come next, and patience makes kindness come a little easier.  Like nesting dolls, you can't get to the last one without opening all the ones before it, one at a time. 

  Now for applying it the way God intended.  This, of course is always the hardest part.  "Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above youselves.  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 God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord.  On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'  Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:9-21  None of this is possible without the love of God in our hearts.  This is how Christ calls us to live.  To love those who hate us.  To reach out to those the world finds unloveable. 

  Take some time to read the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12).  Jesus is blessing the very attitudes the world often finds to be weak.  These are actions which spring forth from a loving heart.  It is easier to hate than to love.  The one who hates is the weak one, not the one who treats his enemy with mercy and kindness. 

  My prayer is to live up to these verses.  To show evidence of Christ's love in every facet of my life.

   

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