A Life of Love
Blog – 2-13-19
February is officially the “love” month. Valentine’s Day is a wonderful celebration of romantic love, but what about living a life of love. What would that look like?
The Bible tells us to do just that in 1 Corinthians 14:1:
Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it – because it does. (The Message)
Wow, those are pretty strong words. Our life, the quality of it at least, depends on how well we love. As I think about living a life of love, it can be overwhelming, to be honest. How do I love others, I mean truly love others, well? How do I practically live a life of love?
The previous chapter gives us more direction about what living a life of love actually looks like. In 1 Corinthians 13 it says:
Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love 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)
These words challenge me. I’m doing okay with some of them, but others I know I have a long way to go on. It’s hard to not keep score when we get hurt, it’s human nature to put ourselves first, and it’s really hard to not want what others have.
As I research these verses further, I realize that Paul, the writer, is describing agape or divine love, a love that transcends our humanity. Jesus modeled this type of love for us, and now it’s our turn to live this kind of love out to the best of our ability.
But how do we practically do that?
I believe the first step is always to do a heart check and see where we are at right now. We can’t change what we don’t see, so I know I am going to spend time with this list myself. I pray God will open my heart at a deeper and deeper level to the areas I can improve on. I trust He will show me the areas I can build on what I’m already doing and convict me of areas where I need His divine help to change me.
I invite you to join me on this love quest! Take a moment or two to look over the list that Paul gives us of what love is, and ask yourself how you are doing with each of those items. Where are you doing well? Where can you improve? Where does God need to change your heart?
Love is so much more than the beautiful cards we give people on Valentine’s Day. It’s so much more than simply showing kindness. It’s more than acts of service.
Together let’s see where we are at and how we can love others the way Christ first loved us.
And remember, on our own this list is impossible. It absolutely is. But with the life-giving blood of Jesus Christ running through our veins, it is truly possible to move closer and closer every day to this beautiful picture of agape love that Jesus modeled for us.
And together we can get one step closer to living a life of love!
Hugs and love,
Jill