Love With Action And Heart
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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 trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." -- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
We frequently hear these verses during wedding ceremonies. Of course, they weren't written specifically for that purpose but I suppose they fit. It's just that there's a real danger in thinking of them as words only applying to newlyweds. They were meant to guide all Christians.
I'm reading a book titled Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It's one of those books that make you squirm because of the truth in the writer's words. Chan is listed as pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. Some folks in the Deep South might dismiss the book because of its California connection. They would miss an awesome book on God and living a Christian life.
Chan says someone once challenged him to perform a little exercise with the above verses. He challenged his readers to do the same. Just insert your name for the word love. For example, "(your name) is patient." I promise that by the time you get to the end, you'll be truly humbled. I don't think any Christian could do this without being truly convicted.
We've come to think of love as a mere feeling, flaky and undependable. It's romance lures us toward it but love is so much deeper and meaningful. Christian love "never fails." We are to always forgive, always seek good for others, never boast in ourselves. And on and on. Imagine putting the interests of someone who doesn't deserve it above your own interests and you'll get the picture.
Chan gives an example of a pastor but it could be anyone. He says that if the pastor speaks well, makes his congregation laugh and prays loudly for the suffering people of this world, then we think he's a good pastor. We don't look at his heart and see if he loves people. Sad, isn't it? Because the love of others is really what matters. Paul spoke of this in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
It's wonderful to do good. It's awesome to study God's Word and to pray for those around us. But the real measure of our faith is seen in our hearts. Do we love others, including our enemies? Do we do good for others, even those who persecute us? Are our hearts filled with kindness and compassion for the lost and wounded? This journey toward God isn't easy. Sometimes the truth makes us uncomfortable. But it's that uncomfortableness that draws us closer to Him and makes us better people in the end.
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