Tuesday 7 June 2016

The Greatest of These

The Greatest of these.

Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and can be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face.”   Francis of Assisi.
Do you truly love? Many say we love but put restrictions on that love. Their love becomes conditional on a good feeling. “The warm and fuzzy’s” as one of my friends says, or Physical attraction. When the good feeling goes or the physical attraction ends, so does their love.
Our love should not be conditional be it on a good feeling or physical attraction, because true love is more than that.
For me the best definition of love ever written in any language was written by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians it states,
“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....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.”  
                                                                                    1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
I believe is a universal truth. That everyone everywhere can understand.
I also believe that to be a Christian you cannot do less than follow this definition of love.
So I ask again, by the definition of love given by the apostle Paul do you Love?
The Apostle Paul says another thing about love, that Christians must follow. He states in his letter to the Romans,
Love must be sincere. 
Hate what is evil; 
cling to what is good.  
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 
Honour one another above yourselves.  
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. 
                                                                              Romans 12:9-18.
So I ask you, if you claim to be a Christian do you follow what the Apostle Paul is saying here?
Please think about it.

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