The Greatest Gift: Love --- GOD'S LOVE --- The true meaning of HAPPY VALENTINE DAY
The Greatest Gift: Love
GOD’S LOVE
By Patricia Smith
More songs have been written about love than about any other topic. It has inspired some of the world's best, and worst, poetry. It has set on fire, and broken, countless hearts throughout human history. Many things are said about love. Yet for the final word on the topic, we must turn to the Bible. In 1 Cor. 13, the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, provides the world's most beautiful ode to love.
There are three different words for love in the Greek language. They are 'Phileo', ‘Eros', and ‘Agape’. Phileo love suggests the esteem and affection found in a casual friendship. Eros love suggests physical sexual desire and not much else. Because neither of these words came close to describing the kind of love Paul wanted to communicate, he chose a relatively rare Greek word for his definitive passage on love. That word is agape. Agape describes a love that is based on the deliberate choice of the one who loves rather than the worthiness of the one who is loved. This kind of love goes against natural human inclination. Paul's description of love is short but full of power in I Corinthian 13. It is a giving, selfless, expect-nothing in return kind of love. Agape love is also described in another book in the bible - The Song of Solomon. In the Song of Solomon, Agape is described as unconditional love. It’s the love that God has for us. Agape is God’s unconditional love.
Love suffers for a long time. Our modern "throw-away" society encourages us to get rid of people in our lives who are difficult to get along with, whether they are friends, family, or acquaintances. Yet this attitude runs in complete contrast to the love described by Paul. True love puts up with people who would be easier to give up on. Love does not envy. If our love is directed toward others, we will rejoice in the blessings they receive rather than desiring those blessings for ourselves. Fundamentally, the selfless love that God calls us to does not involve pride or glory. It does not parade itself and is not puffed up. In fact, true love does not seek its own. If we truly love others, we will set aside our own plans, agendas, and entitlements for the good of another.
Love is not provoked. That is, love is not easily angered or over-sensitive. When we truly love others, we are careful not be touchy concerning other people's words or actions towards us. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. The Godly love described in I Corinthians 13 has nothing to do with evil, but has everything to do with what is right and true.
Love believes all things and hopes all things. This does not mean that love is blind or naive. When we love, we may recognize problems and failures in people, but we do not lose faith in the possibilities of what people might become. Love never gives up, knowing that God can change lives for the better. Love never fails. Love continues forever. 13:13 Faith enables us to come to God (see Heb. 11:6), but love enables us to imitate Him. ), 14:1." There are many things in life that we can simply take or leave, but love is not one of them.
Finally, love endures all things. Love accepts any hardship or rejection, and continues unabated to build up and encourage. The love described by Paul in this "love chapter" means determining what is best for another person and then doing it. This is the kind of love that God shows us. This is that unconditional Agape Love.
Scriptures on LOVE
Corinthians 13: 1-13
1Though 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 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 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.
MAXIMIZE EVERY MOMENT
Poem by Patricia Smith
Maximize every moment . . . ..
Moments are here and then they are gone
We are not promised the next moment
We only have today…..this very moment in time
So, maximize this moment!
Live life to its fullest
We are all on borrowed time
It’s our time, though. . . .We need only to make good use of it.
We all have purposes
We just need to activate what God has already granted to us
We are here because God is ready to use us
We do have choices. . . .we need only to make good ones
And. . . . maximize the moment.
HOPE means happy anticipation and satisfaction of everything that God has so blessed us with . . . .
CHARITY means giving of oneself to the utmost and without any expectations in return
LOVE is continuous and everlasting . . .
Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers, Grandfathers leave us a legacy. . . .
Their residual prayers and undying love that we carry in our hearts forever
Husbands and Wives unite as one in a covenant relationship to share their lives and share real love until death and even thereafter
Children love life . . . .
Children love love . . .
They love being happy; they love feeling safe; they love their toys; they love the newness and freshness of each and every day; and they love their parents unconditionally . . . .
It’s too bad that we can’t live
and love like children. . . . . . .
GOD loves the best, though . . . .. . .
He loves us all unconditionally
He gave us the ultimate gift. . . . His Son Jesus . . . .
So that we may live
and love
and Maximize the Moments
Forever!
PattyCake Greetings From the Heart
~Patricia~
HAPPY VALENTINE DAY TO ALL MY FRIENDS & FAMILY!!!!
Dedicating this piece to my children ----
Les, Brian & Tanya
Shanna & Tre Wilson
and my lil heart Theo.
