Love, Love, Love

Everybody needs it, everyone wants it. Most can't grasp it, very few comprehend it. It's simple yet complicated. It's required but not mandatory. Many think it's natural but in actuality it's a choice. It's tangible, it's audible, it's visual. That's just my description but let's let the author of life describe this phenomenon...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 Cor 13:4-8)

I chose to write about love today because God is teaching me that everything in life roots from one of two things; anything negative, wrong or evil roots from Pride. And everything positive, good, perfect and heavenly roots from Love. (If you want to know what pride looks like just read the above passage oppositely than it reads...pride is not patient, pride is not kind. It does envy...)There are many religious beliefs out there and so many "doctrines", do's and don'ts and different cultural views but when you come to the very bottom line of everything...remove all the intellectual thoughts and preconceived ideas of spiritual things...it all comes down to love!

God teaches us to love one another because that's what Jesus did, He loved. He was compassionate. Jesus told us that it was a choice to love not something you fall into like everyone talks about now days. No it's a choice to love or to hate. He said Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)

Our greatest example in how to live life should be taken from the one man who lived here and faced the same challenges we face but truly did everything perfectly without flaw. He left us many messages, teachings and mysteries to unveil but the strongest and most obvious one of all...He said to Love!