WATCHWORD:
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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 do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 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 the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a 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. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
Meditation:
Meaning of Love
(A conversation between Barabbas and his wife, Shania, on Jesus’ command that we love others as He has loved us. From A Life for Barabbas by Stan Escott.)
“But, Barabbas, my dear, I’m not sure I understand how I would love as he loves me. I would give my life for you, but…”
“Yes, of course, and I would do the same. But, as we take on the mind of Jesus, then loving others becomes second nature for us. So, you see, He loves me, not because I was lovable, but because it is His nature.
“His love includes those that we have had unkind thoughts about, difficult persons within our community; the Romans, many among the Pharisees, and others. We really could not say that we love them, but he does. Beginning to take on His mind and His nature, I believe that is what Jesus wants for us.
“Shania, this is not a forced form of love, not patronizing, nor false, it is real. For us to embrace this kind of love will take time, it will not happen overnight, and we can’t do it on our own, it will require the help of Jesus, himself.
“For us to love others as Jesus loves us is hard to imagine. How do we do that? I’ve thought a lot about this ever since Calvary. That encounter with Jesus transformed me. In a real sense, it killed my old self. I think that God’s love means Calvary. When Jesus died on that cross for me, my old self, my old nature, died with Him. The only way that God can forgive me my old life is for that old nature of me, that person that did the bad things, to be dead and gone.
“To me, the forgiveness of God means I am actually made a new person, a new creation. You can say I had been forgiven into a right relationship with Jesus the Christ. Shania, when we dedicate ourselves to the teachings of Jesus and surrender ourselves to him, he turns us into a standard of himself. He puts into us a new nature and that is the nature of Jesus the Christ. Not only have I been forgiven, I have forgiven myself.”
Shania nodded and took his hand. “I have felt that in myself, and I have seen that in you. I have been loved by you for a long time, but since you returned from Galilee it just seems like we have a different kind of love, so fresh and new; it’s unconditional. It’s like Jesus has gifted us with this new thing, called love.”
“I agree. I think what Jesus is telling us is that our love for others should be the same as what we experience of his love for us. His love for us is unconditional, as you said. It is active. One cannot truly and wholly love selectively. His love was not qualified by some standard, or behaviors, or what we’ve done in the past, or because of the way we look. The love standard that Jesus has given us is unrestricted. I think it is active love. We would view another person as if he is our brother or she is our sister. When we love another, as Jesus does, we impart value to one another, a value that never lessens; it never dies.”
Amen.
Bulletin Board:
Closing Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you that you are a loving, gracious God. Thank you that you’ve offered us forgiveness and the gift of new life in you. Thank you that your love is perfect, it never fails, and that nothing can separate us from your love. We pray that our lives would be filled and overflowing with the power of your love so we can make a difference in this world and bring honor to you. We ask for your help in reminding us that the most important things are not what we do outwardly, it’s not based on any talent or gift, but the most significant thing we can do in this life is simply to love you and to choose to love others. Lord thank you that your love is patient. Help us show patience with those around us. Lord thank you that your love is kind. Help us to extend kindness to others. Lord thank you that true love is not jealous. Help us cast aside feelings of jealousy or hatred towards others.
Help us to love as you love. Fill us with your Spirit so that we can choose what is best. We are weak Lord, but we know also, that even when we are weak, you are strong within us. Thank you that it’s not all up to us. Thank you that you equip us to face each day with the power of your love, your forgiveness, and your grace. Amen.
