What is love?
So why do we love pizza and love our spouse? Are we really patient, kind, believe all things in pizza, and with pizza? How about our kids? Are our kids on the same playing field as chocolate?
Sitting with my dad this week I have had lots of thoughts and reflections. While holding onto God's strength, and reminding myself who I am in the Lord's eye, I also am thinking who my dad is.
This man is my dad, I love him. I missed out on having him around as I grew up. I had another man, a great man. A man I also consider my dad. Man, do people get confused who is who. I have to explain constantly who I am talking about. I refer to both men as my dad. I am blessed to have two dads! Not like the TV show, two real dads!
I have had the blessing of sitting and loving on my dad this week. He has been in the hospital. (Prayer request he can move to a rehab facility tomorrow!)
I have thought about my dad, he was not a perfect dad, I honestly can't say he was a present dad. I did see him on occasions, but not regularly. I got to really know him when I moved 800 miles away from everything I knew when I was 19 yrs old.
So dad was not perfect, he did allot wrong. Yet I know he loved and loves us kids. Not the same love he has for cookies or chocolate but the love we have for our kids. Dad loved us the best he could. I know he carried so much guilt over the years. I know he thought he messed up so bad it was too late! My dad loves us kids, I am not quite sure he knew how to express it! My dad made lots of mistakes, but doesn't every parent. Show me a child who walks out of the house (for good) who does not have some kind of wound! It's just not possible!
Love is not things also, it's not envious, boastful, conceited, act improperly, selfish, provoked, keeps records of wrongs, finds joy in unrighteousness!
Love covers a multitude of sins!
So why do we hurt those we love? I don't mean to hurt my hubby, kids, family, or friends I just do. Maybe it's words I say, maybe it's my actions, maybe it's doing nothing! Maybe it's a gift I gave that someone took as a personal stab.
Why then does love hurt so bad! According to 1 Corinthians love should not hurt. Why does it?
I think how blessed my dad is! He has not been father of the year many years since he has had kids, yet love covers a multitude of sins! right?
He has all 6 kids loving him daily. Whether they are close or away. They are all there to love him. Not because he earned it, but because of love!
They are not doing this for him! Or maybe they are. I don't know! I don't know why they are loving him, I only know why I love him. I love because Christ first loved me! I love him not out of guilt or "paying it forward". I rub on him because of Christ! I get nothing in return. I forgive my dad for everything because Christ has forgiven me!
Happy early Valentine's day! Who can you love today -to share the love Christ first gave to you?
Would you take time and read the whole chapter on love today and ask yourself who are you not loving? Who do you not love well?
This Valentine's will you join me in not making this day about lovers and make it about loving others the way the Lord Jesus Christ wants us to love?
John McArthur writes "the more believers grow in their knowledge of Christ, the more He is revealed in their lives (see Phil. 3:12-14)"
Don't take my word for it- look it up your self! Spend some time growing in your knowledge of Christ!
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