I've always considered the word "love" a verb. I found out last week from dictionary.com that love is also a noun. Love: (as a noun) A profoundly tender passionate affection for another person. Love: (as a verb) To have love or affection for.
My question to you as we explore the first fruit of the spirit, LOVE, is what does the word love mean to you?
Take a few minutes and reflect on what love means to you. As we all know, there is a difference in loving someone and being in love with someone.
Love is the greatest commandment of all. We're told to love our neighbors (referring to others as well, not just the people next door and across the street from you) as we love ourselves. I've heard people say time and time again, "Just because I don't like you does not mean that I don't love you. I love everyone." Would you consider this the same as, "I love you, but there are certain characteristics in your DNA make up that I don't like"? I am striving to be the person that everyone loves. While I know I am not perfect and do not claim to be, but 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV) says love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, it always protects, always trust, always perseveres.
Now, let's revisit that moment of what love means to you. Can you honestly say you possess all of the characteristics of love. Being honest with myself as well as you, I am a work in progress and God has his hands on me everyday. That is not a cop-out, it is the harsh reality. If we took the time to pick the scripture apart, which characteristics can you place in your basket as yours and the remaining will be the ones you are seeking the God's guidance before making the purchase?
Let's start with patient, are you easily irritated or aggravated when the light is holding too long, the cashier has to call for management, the carpool line is moving too slow, or an adult is not on the same level with you?
I can honestly confess that oftentimes my patience wears thin with the person who has 50 items in the 10 items or less aisle and I have a rotisserie chicken and a gallon of Milo's tea. Are you patient with the one you are in love with? Are you patient with the one you love?
Moving right along to kind. What is kind? Kind is defined as of a good or benevolent nature or disposition. So, I challenge you to dig within and ask yourself if you are kind? Are you kind to everyone or just to some people some of the time? Kindness extends to the person who ticked you off yesterday in line at Starbucks as well as to that co-worker that does not pull his/her weight around the office. Are you kind to the one you are in love with? Are you kind to the one you love? Are you kind until someone push that right button?
Remember the greatest command is to love and to love you must be patient and kind.
To Be Continued...
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