1 Corinthians 13
Notice as love is described the passage keeps using the phrases "love is" or "love does"? Paul in his description does not talk about how love feels, he talks about how love is acted out. There is no doubt that feelings are huge when it comes to love. We relish the feelings of being "in love". But Paul's instructions to us iare focused on the actions of love. How we live out loving another person.
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Rising above my feelings is something I didn't understand how to do in my early Christian walk. Being a recovering alcoholic and attending AA, I kept hearing around the tables of AA: "act as if and the feelings will eventually follow". I have never forgotten that phrase. I incorporated that phrase, along with this love chapter, and thru the power of the Holy Spirit that brings scripture to my rememberance, it has been possible to love what is sometimes the unlovable. Looking in the mirror, afterall, an alcoholic is most unlovable at times! The greatest challenge to put this into action was when my Dad developed a deadly disease due to the greed of corporate men. He was nothing short of murdered. It was a long process for me before I could even reach the "act as if" point, but by the grace of God, I finally did. Acting as if I forgave them, acting as if I really loved the men responsible for Dad's death, acting as if I really cared about their salvation and repentance. I finally did truly care about their souls and have forgiven them; why? Because Jesus forgave me and shed His precious blood for me and for them. Loving and praying for the men responsible for my Dad's death is what Christ calls me to do - this is acting out what Paul is talking about; it has taken 5 years to get here...but I know now that love truly never fails. I am now free of these destructive feelings and Dad is safe in the presence of Jesus, never to be harmed again. How I look forward to seeing him again someday!
ReplyDeleteThe first part of the passage is similar to giving someone the answer they want to hear. We may have enormous faith, give away all we make and speak in foreign tongues, but unless we do so out of love, it means nothing. At an appointment the other day, a doctor was asking me questions to which I responded with all of the “right” answers. I knew what I was supposed to say, so I said it and withheld some true feelings. Why did I do this? So I could get out of there quickly and just move past the situation. Nothing came out of the appointment, other than me feeling frustrated and annoyed. I think that love is like that. We can do all the things we are supposed to as Christians in an effort to expedite our name to the top of His list, but really, those fake actions mean nothing. Nothing will come from them. They must be carried out with true love in order to have an effect on our spiritual life. I think this is a reason so many people become aggravated when they are doing all the right things, but do not see the benefit from doing so.
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