THE WAY OF LOVE
In his epistle to the Church at Corinth (chapters 12 & 14) the Apostle Paul speaks about some of the various supernatural spiritual gifts and manifestations operating in the Church.
     In the 13th chapter of I Corinthians, Paul teaches that, over and above the practice of these spiritual gifts, emphasis must be placed on demonstrating love.
     In his letter to the Galatian churches (chapter 5) Paul lists a sampling of the various evidences of the fruit of the Spirit in the life of believers.
     Gifts are given. (I Cor. 12:8-10).
     The fruit of the Spirit must be developed in everyday living (Galatians 5:24 & 25).
     The central focus of the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE:
         JOY is love exalted;
          PEACE is love in repose;
          LONG SUFFERING is love enduring;
          GENTLENESS is love in society;
          GOODNESS is love in action;
          FAITH is love on the battlefield;
          MEEKNESS is love in school;
          TEMPERANCE is love in training.
     We do not always demonstrate these Godly characteristics "24/7". They must be developed on a daily basis. (I Cor. 15:31 - Eph. 4:1-3)
     A gospel song puts it this way:
          "I'm not what I want to be...
              "But, thank God I'm not what I was."
     We cannot do much about how we feel -- we CAN do something about how we act. Even when having a "bad hair day", we can still TRY to be in a good mood.
     It is our responsibility to walk in peace. We must CHOOSE to be peaceful.
     And so it is with love --
     Love is not just a feeling. Love is a choice; an attitude.
     Love lives basically for other people, without the need for approbation.  (I Cor. 13:3).
     Those who love are happy.
     Selfish people are never happy.
     I Corinthians 13:4-7 lists the characteristics of those who walk in the way of love:
          LOVE:
          never gives up,
          cares more for others than for self,
          doesn't want what it doesn't have,
          doesn't strut,
          doesn't have a swelled head,
          doesn't force itself on others,
          isn't always "me first,"
          doesn't fly off the handle,
          doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
          doesn't revel when others grovel,
          takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
          puts up with anything,
          trusts God always,
          always looks for the best,
          never looks back,
            but keeps going to the end.   (The Message)
     I do not always practice these characteristics. Neither do you.
     You and I need to review this list every day; and work on the areas where we need improvement.
     Preaching is wonderful. Yet, people will know we are Christians when we practice THE WAY OF LOVE. -- Your friend, SISTER PAULA

Friday February 10, 2010