Love is an important part of the believer's walk. It is mentioned many times througout the New Testament...
"This is my commandment, love one another."
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another."
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God."
and so on...I am reading a wonderful book by Hugh Binning called Christian Love. I wanted to share his thoughts on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a about what love is and requires.
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth..."
'Charity is kind' and 'suffereth long' - "It is a great weakness and meanness of spirit to be soon angry. Such a spirit has not the rule of itself but is in bondage to its own lust."
'Charity envieth not' - "Envy is the seed of all contention, and self-love brings it forth. When every man desires to be esteemed chief, and would have pre-eminence among others, their ways and courses must interfere one with another. It is this that makes discord."
'Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up' - "If love has gifts and graces beyond other, it restrains itself with the bridle of modesty and humility from vaunting or boasting or any thing in its carriage that may savour of conceit. Pride is a self-admirer, and despises others, and to please itself it cares not to displease others."
'Charity seeketh not her own' - "Self-denial and true love are inseparable. Self-love makes a monopoly of all things to its own interest, and this is most opposite to Christian affection and communion, which puts all in one bank."
'Charity is not easily provoked' - "This is the straight and solid firmness of it...where there is much provocation given, yet it is not provoked. Now, to complete it, it is not easily provoked at light offences. It is strange how little a spark of injuries puts all in a flame, because our spirits are as gunpowder, so capable of combustion through corruption. How ridiculous, for the most part, are the causes of our wrath!"
'Charity thinketh no evil' - "Charity is apt to take all things in the best sense...Yet, if need require, charity can execute justice, and inflict chastisement, not out of desire of another's misery, but out of love and compassion to mankind."
'Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity' - "Though it can love and wish well to evil men, yet it rejoices not in iniquity...It cannot rejoice that iniquity, its capital enemy, should reign and prevail.
But it 'rejoiceth in the truth'; the advancement and progress of others in the way of truth and holiness is its pleasure; though that should eclipse its own glory, yet it looks not on it with an evil eye. If it can find out any good in them that are enemies to it, it is not grieved to find it and know it, but can rejoice at any thing which may give ground of good construction of them."
'Charity beareth all things' - "By nature we are undaunted heifers, we cannot bear anything patiently; but charity is accustomed to the yoke."
'Charity believeth all things' - "Our nature is malignant and wicked, and therefore most suspicious and jealous, and apt to take all in the worst part; but charity has much candour and humanity in it, and can believe well of every man, and believe all things, as far as truth will permit."
'Charity never faileth' - "What an unsuitable thing might a believer think it, to hate someone in this world whom he must love eternally; and to contend and strive with those, even for matters of small moment, with bitterness and rigidity, with whom he shall have an eternal, uninterrupted unity and fellowship."
"And truly there is nothing that makes a man so heaven-like or God-like as this - much love and charity."
For those of you interested in reading it, Christian Love is a Puritan Paperback, published by Banner of Truth.
posted by the blessed sister of 10 and aunt to 2 - Sarah
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Wow- Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWhat a very important topic you have posted about. There are several places in the New Testament that discuss love. What a great topic, but sometimes it is harder than it seems to remember to truly love our brothers and sisters. It is something that God has been reminding me about a lot the last two weeks. I can’t say that I have improved much in this area over the last two weeks, but your blog post is a great reminder for me to keep this on my mind and in my prayers.
Thank you Sarah, a very important part if not THEE MOST important part of being a Christian.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid my accomplishment(s) in this area may be weak. But I do get up each day and try again. Perhaps I will print your posting and carry it with me. Just as a reminder that I need to try harder.
Thank you,
Jill