True Love
Real love is a supernatural gift given by God. Sometimes we have the idea that love is just a feeling or emotion, but that’s not love at all. It may be infatuation, but it is not true love. John said, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.“ (1 John 4:7-10)
When we see the perfect example of God’s love in Jesus, we can begin to get a grasp of what true love really is. True love sacrifices for another, it chooses to lose in the short run so blessings can be shared in the long run, it pursues the best for another, and when wronged love even forgives.
Forgiving love is hard to imagine in our society. When business deals can no longer be trusted to a handshake and when marriages can so easily be thrown away like the daily trash we can get a tainted view love. As a Christian, I am not bound to a natural life. I have been raised up by the supernatural work of Jesus, and by His power I can overcome. Paul talked plainly about this in Colossians.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. …Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:1-2, 13-14)
I am glad that I am not bound to live this life tossed by every situation. Because I have been purchased by God’s forgiving love, I can forgive others in love. I can walk above this world’s circumstances – far above. I must leave my disappointments to God and let the Spirit of God minister peace inside of me.
I can forgive because I can love; and I can love because I have been forgiven. Let’s thank God for His mighty love and forgiveness, and let’s change our community with the love and forgiveness He so freely gave!
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