Love 2

1 Corinthians 13:6-7

It can feel good to be right in life. So often in a relationship disagreements can arise and it is very tempting to desire that your opinion or approach is right and will be proven right. You may find yourself hoping that the other person will have their plans or approach fail so that your way will be proven right.

But if we truly love another, then that love will override that desire and instead we will look for harmony and hope for those things that are beneficial to both partners in the relationship.

The most notable comment and description of love comes from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. The thirteenth chapter is called the “Love Chapter.” What does he say about love? What does love always do?

Any relationship is going to have its ups and downs, its times of complete happiness as well as those times of disagreement and dispute. Yet, in those low times, when two people may be at odds with one another, if there is love the bad times are easier to endure.

Even in times of disagreement and dispute, if there is love, then both people will not delight in the misfortunes of the other. Rather, those who love want what is best for the other and will join in the sorrow of their companion when evil exists or bad things happen. The delight of love is in the truth, in what is right. And in the truth we may find happiness.

Love also does many things. It always protects. Those who love another will want to keep the other from experiencing hurt and harm. They will want good things for the one loved.

Love always trusts. Those in love exist in the confidence that the one loved wants what is best for both of them and is as committed to the relationship as the other person.

Love always hopes and perseveres. Love is that driving force that keeps us optimistic, that works toward a happy outcome, and that compels us forward in anticipation of ultimate goodness, security and happiness. Love is that controlling emotion that secures a relationship of mutual goodness and care, seeking what is best and beneficial for those who are in love.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can you do to live out what is described by Paul?

Love 1

Song of Songs 8:6-7

Before I perform any wedding I must meet with the couple and discuss certain issues, usually talking about what to expect in the marriage, and so on. One of the first questions I ask of the couple is, “Why are you getting married?”

I ask the question because I need to know that there is love between the two people. Love is essential in a relationship, especially one that will last. And love is an all-or-nothing thing. There is no half way to love.

Ascribed to King Solomon, the son of King David, the book in the Bible called “Song of Songs” or “Song of Solomon” is a passionate accounting of love. What does the person in love desire? How is love described? What is the comparison between love and wealth?

These words are often used in wedding ceremonies. They embody the power and passion of love. They describe how strong the emotion of love can be. For those who are truly in love it is easy to identify with these descriptions.

Love is as unmovable as the inevitability of death. Love can cause our hearts and minds to burn with passion, blazing like a bright fire that cannot be quenched by water; and no amount of money can sway us from our passion.

But this passage begins by calling for a seal, a marking that shows that the one in love belongs to another. Love should be a seal placed on the one who is loved. In our society we have the exchanging of rings – gold or silver bands – that let others know that this person is sealed in a relationship of love. But in reality the love that two people have for one another can be that seal, that emblem that shows others that this person is committed to another.

When we love another person then our actions and behaviors will act as that seal. When we love another person then our attitude and the way we treat that other person will act as that seal that signifies a deep relationship exists. Although we have seals that are used to mark our love relationships, those who are truly in love need no tangible item for others to know that they belong to another.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What do you do to show others that you are in love?

Patient in Faith 5

James 5:7-8

Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it.” It’s funny, but it’s true – and it’s true because there is nothing we can do about the weather. And who knows better than farmers?

They till their fields, plant the crops, fertilize and tend to them, but ultimately they must trust in the perseverance of the plants to endure no matter what the weather brings.

The same is true of the faithful believer. We can have faith. We can believe. We can pray and study Scripture, and we can strive to imitate Christ in our thoughts and actions. But we have no idea what is coming our way. We have no idea what all the challenges of life we will face. And sometimes there is nothing we can do to stop them. We just need to be ready to face them.

What does James urge us to do? What example does he give? What does he encourage in verse 8?

One obvious interpretation of this passage is that believers must be patient and wait for the Second Coming of Christ. The faithful are to wait with anticipation the Day of Judgment when all who love Jesus will be taken up to heaven.

But I also believe we are called on to be patient for the times that are coming before that final judgment. As farmers must wait for the yield of crops, we too must be patient to see the yield of our faith.

James urges us to stand firm. We are to stand firm in our faith, having complete confidence that God will be with us as we go through the hardships of life. God can give us the strength and peace to endure the challenges and temptations we face.

The Lord’s coming is near, and it is more than just the final day of mortal existence. The Lord will come to you – he is near to you – when situations challenge your trust in God or when troubles make you want to doubt or you see yourself as weak.

DAILY CHALLENGE: what can help you stand firm in your faith?

Patient in Faith 4

Romans 5:3-4

As a parent it may be difficult to watch your child grow and develop. It is part of the maturing process to try things, fail, try again, and ultimately succeed. Just as the saying goes – you learn from your mistakes – you also grow stronger as you repeatedly attempt certain activities.

Little children must learn how to walk on their own. You can’t walk for them, and as they learn there will be the occasional fall. But eventually those falls will become less and less as the child develops, grows, and becomes stronger and more able.

The same is true of faith. When we turn our hearts over to God we are given faith. We know in our souls that we are loved by God and we get that incredible sense of grace from the Lord. But that is the beginning. We must continue to grow and develop spiritually from that point. And along the way we will face challenges and possible setbacks, but these can help us become stronger.

Paul offers encouragement in the fifth chapter of Romans. Why should we rejoice? What does suffering produce? What does perseverance produce? What does character produce?

We certainly do not want or need to go out looking for trouble and challenges, but when they come our way we should meet them with confidence. Paul claims that Christians rejoice in their suffering. This is hard to do and may be an overstatement.

Rather than rejoice because we have troubles, we should rejoice in the opportunity of growth. When we face troubles we are given the opportunity to become better people, believers with a stronger faith.

When troubles and challenges strike we can have the confidence that God will work with us to overcome them and He will help to build us up. The challenges teach us to persevere, to keep plugging away and to hold on dearly to our relationship with Jesus. As we make it through our troubles we are stronger, our faith is deeper. Our relationship is proved to be valid and strong.

With that we have more character, a better, more sound and secure connection to God. And that gives us hope, hope that as we face future challenges we will again be able to rely on God and grow stronger in our faith.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you develop a sense of hope to face challenges and troubles?

Patient in Faith 3

Romans 12:11-12

In college I contracted mononucleosis, a debilitating illness that weakens the body so much that simply walking across a room can exhaust you. The remedy was to take medications, but also to rest. This was difficult to do because after several hours of lying in bed I felt that I had regained my strength. But when I tried to do anything I was worn out after the smallest activity.

I quickly learned that I had to be patient in my affliction. The best thing to do was to be sick, allowing my body to work through the illness until I improved.

In his letter to the church in Rome Paul has advice on faith. What are we to keep? What should be our attitude? What should we do?

It can be so difficult to maintain our faith sometimes. We are faced with temptations and challenges in life, and we may join in with the disciples who asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). But faith is not always something that comes in full force and in an instant.

We must learn to be patient in our faith. That patience may involve waiting through the difficult situations trusting that God will use those times to build us up. But being patient in our faith does not mean we sit by idly and watch.

Patience in faith requires attentiveness on our part and an investment of our hearts, souls and minds.

As we wait to be stronger in our faith we must work to build up that faith. We are called to have zeal – passion, eagerness – in our spiritual attitude. While we wait we must have joy in anticipation that God will be working with us and through us, and that God will resolve the issues we face.

The best way to achieve this is to be faithful in our prayers. We can pray for stronger faith. We can pray for the patience we need to wait for that time when God will finally call on us to act. We can pray to grow nearer to the Lord, to have our spirits draw closer to the Holy Spirit that we might be more Christ-like in our thoughts and actions.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you have zeal for God’s kingdom? How can you still have spiritual fervor even if this is a time of waiting?