For His Glory - Wednesday, May 6, 2009, "Lip Service"

I recently have undertaken a study to truly learn what it is to Love. Trust me, it is not easy to get to be almost 47 years old only to find out I have been missing the mark. Admittedly, as my children grow and go through the difficulties of growing, I am learning that I do love them unconditionally because of who they are (my children) not because of what they do or don't do - or how long their hair is! I can honestly say that, unfortunately, I don't have that kind of unconditional, sacrificial love for EVERYONE in my circle and while it pains me, it also makes me angry enough to want to do something about it. We think of the number "13" as an "unlucky" number but I don't believe in luck and 1st Corinthians 13 speaks, for 13 verses about what love is . . . and isn't and love, according to my buddy, isn't "lip service." Don't say you love if you're not willing to put it into action. The text of the scripture follows:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy,

and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,

but have not love, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,

and though I give my body to be burned,

but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind;

love does not envy;

love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely,

does not seek its own,

is not provoked,

thinks no evil;

6 [LOVE] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 [LOVE] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;

whether there are tongues, they will cease;

whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect has come,

then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child,

I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

I don't profess to have all the answers but I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I do not want to be someone who casually, glibly says "I love you" but doesn't have the marbles to back it up with my actions. God demonstrated HIS love for us by sending HIS Son, Jesus to die for us WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS. God's love and gift was not conditioned on me being good enough and if I dare to speak the words I love you, my friends, it had better be more than lip service, whether I am professing my love for God and my Savior, for my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my neighbors. It doesn't matter what you've read here that touched your heart, if I cannot demonstrate love to you, unconditonally, I am nothing and my words are noise at best! My youngest shared a quote from Mr. Ghandi which says "Be the change you want to see in the world." If I want others to love FIRST because God has first loved us, the change must start with me! I would ask that first and foremost, you lift me to the throne of Grace as I desire to be one who loves and asking, second, that you make the journey with me. Yours, In Him - AA