Embrace the Within no. 215
“Beloved friends, let us love one another; because love is from God; and everyone who loves has God as his Father and knows God. Those who do not love, do not know God; because God is love. Here is how God showed his love among us: God sent his only Son into the world, so that through him we might have life” (1 Yochanan (1 Jo) 4:7-9). God is love. So, what is love?
“Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not gloat over other people’s sins but takes its delight in the truth. Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, always endures. Love never ends; but prophecies will pass, tongues will cease, knowledge will pass” (1 Corinthians (1 Co) 13:4-8).
Why is love important?
“I may speak in the tongues of men, even angels; but if I lack love, I have become merely blaring brass or a cymbal clanging. I may have the gift of prophecy, I may fathom all mysteries, know all things, have all faith — enough to move mountains; but if I lack love, I am nothing. I may give away everything that I own, I may even hand over my body to be burned; but if I lack love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians (1 Co) 13:1-3).
It’s not whether or not our theology is right. It’s not about whether we go to the right church. It’s not about even if we go to church. It’s about love. And it will be easy to notice if we are acting in love or not. “But what comes out of your mouth is actually coming from your heart, and that is what makes a person unclean. For out of the heart come forth wicked thoughts, murder, adultery and other kinds of sexual immorality, theft, lies, slanders. . . . These are what really make a person unclean, but eating without doing n’tilat-yadayim does not make a person unclean” (Mattityahu (Mat) 15:18-20). Our words and our deeds reveal our heart. So patience, kindness, humility, service, trust, hope, and endurance are all signs of our righteousness and cleanliness. The other signs reveal our heart as unclean and unrighteous. “'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things” (Galatians (Gal) 5:22-23).
Grace and Shalom to your home.
I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!
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