TODAY IS…

the perfect day to celebrate God’s gift of love.

“Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT

In many ways, the meaning of love has been diminished in today’s society,

Far too often lust is mistaken for love. Indeed, the word itself seems overused and undervalued. If any of us have found ourselves struggling to understand its meaning, its importance, and its place in our lives, we need only open our Bibles to Chapter 13 of the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth.

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6 NLT).

These are incredible truths that make clear what love should mean to each and every one of us.

“Love is patient and kind.”

Say those words to yourself when you quietly observe your spouse.

“Love is patient and kind.”

Say those words to yourself when you watch your children sleeping.

“Love is patient and kind.”

Say those words to yourself when you see a friend or neighbor.

“Love is patient and kind.”

Five words that should speak volumes to us about how we should view ourselves, our families, our friends and neighbors, members of our church – virtually everyone we meet.

As if he isn’t sure he has been succinct enough, Paul continues with, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT).

For a man who had approved of, and witnessed, the stoning to death of another man, and who had originally set out to destroy Christianity by persecuting Christians, Paul certainly had a major change of heart. Of course, it was Jesus who changed his heart on the road to Damascus and created the greatest influence on the shaping of Christianity the world has ever known, apart from Jesus Himself.

Allow Jesus to come into your heart and enable you to see the meaning, importance, and place of love in your life.

Celebrate the gift of love with the people around you today and every day and praise God, the One who gives it to us.

And remember, “Love never gives up.”

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson