Living the Love of God 09-15-2024

Text: I Corinthians 13

                    As we grow in our Christian walk and learn more of what the Bible teaches us, we begin to transform not only personally but in how we relate to others.  This is the result of the Holy Spirit showing us and teaching us about the love we receive from God.  The Bible is God’s message of how deeply we are loved by Him and as an extension of that love, how we should love one another.  First Corinthians 13 has been called the chapter of love.  It is both a hymn of love and a beautiful portrait of Jesus reflecting His patience and kindness.  The best way for Christians to bring the Word of God to the world is by living and sharing the love He shows us with others.  So, this morning let’s look at how we can be more like Jesus by being more loving and kind. 

Paul wrote in I Corinthians 13:  “(1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [which is love], I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.  (4) Charity suffers long [a reference to patience] and is kind, charity envies not.  Love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up; (5) does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; (6) rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  (8) Love never fails  but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  (9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  (10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  (11)  When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought s a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  (12) For now, we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known.  (13) And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  This is a well-known chapter, and it is a guide for our lives as Christians.  Paul isn’t speaking of the romantic love we share with our husbands or wives, but rather it’s the kind of love that’s rooted in the love we receive from God.  And it should be the way we live our life as we interact with other people.  So, let’s look how we should behave to live God’s love.

                   First, love is patient.  When we live God’s love it means that we don’t let anger take hold of us quickly.  It refers to patience not necessarily so much with circumstances or events, but more importantly, to be patient with people.  But, when other people are involved, it’s not always going to be easy because people can be difficult.  As believers we should work at not becoming extremely angry.  Also, we shouldn’t retaliate or seek revenge against those who hate us or treat us badly.  We must always remember that God is lovingly patient with us and as loving patient Christians, we to must do our best to be as calm as possible and never engage in revenge or retaliation.

                   Love is kind.  Our example of Christian kindness is Jesus Christ.  Now to some, perhaps kindness may seem like weakness.  Afterall, we celebrate strength and courage and standing up for ourselves and our rights.  Paul speaks of the kindness that moves us to help those who are hurting.  It’s kindness that causes us to reach out to difficult and demanding people.  It’s kindness that gives us compassion to reach out to the weak and hurting.  The love expressed in kindness can heal the hurts of the world.  Kindness restores relationships and blesses children.

                   Love isn’t jealous.  It’s love that keeps us from being jealous or envious of others.  Solomon tells us in Proverbs that envy is rottenness of the bones; it makes the bones rot.  People who get all worked up over what others have are full of envy.  The way not to be envious is to be grateful to God for what He has given us.  He gives us far more than we deserve.  To be content and satisfied with what we have is living God’s love.

                   Love is humble.  It’s not arrogant or boastful.  It doesn’t brag in order to make oneself feel superior and others inferior.  First Corinthians 1:31 tells us that if we are going to boast, boast in the Lord.  Love is not egotistical or self-centered; it’s humble.  Humility isn’t thinking low of our selves --  it’s not thinking of our self at all.  Love is what makes us think of others rather than ourselves. 

                   Love isn’t rude.  Rudeness is unbecoming behavior for Christians.  Love doesn’t cause us to act like the south end of a northbound horse.  There’s so much crudeness and rudeness today.  But love is courteous and practices good manners.  It’s also sensitive, considerate, and gracious to everyone.

                   Love is unselfish.  It doesn’t insist on having its own way.  We all battle self-interest and the desire to put ourselves first.  But for loving Christians, God expects us  to put others ahead of ourselves.  Jesus, again, is our example.  He doesn’t insist on His own way.  He tells us in Matthew 20:28 that He didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.  You can’t be less selfish than that!

                   Love isn’t irritable or resentful.  Some live in a constant state of anger.  But love isn’t touchy or thin-skinned.  If were easily provoked, we risk staining our testimony with our neighbors or with unbelievers.  We all know people who are constantly angry and negative.  They’re always ready for a fight.  God’s love is the only cure for this irritability.

                   Love is optimistic.  Rather than being resentful and skeptical, love looks for the best in people and rejoices when it’s found.  It isn’t resentful, nor does it keep a record of offenses against us.  Living God’s love destroys bitterness, hatred, and malice.  It forgives and forgets.  We must stop rerunning the offenses of others against us.  Christian love also accepts and appreciates the differences in people.

                   Love bears all things, believes all things, and hopes all things.  Love never quits or gives up.  Love that is happy and optimistic will save our relationships.  We are to learn to love others.  The same Jesus that lit our hearts with love will give us the ability love for our spouse, family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers.  The way to win in life is to love God’s way because love is never defeated.  Everything else will fail or disappear, but God’s love, Christian love never fails or disappears.

                   To sum up all of the above in a sentence:  Life minus love equals nothing.  Jesus said in John 13:35 that all people will know we are His disciples if we have love for one another.  God’s love changes our position from death to life, from being objects of His wrath to the objects of His love and salvation.  It also changes our personality and takes us from being critical and self-serving to people who love.  Jude 1:21 tell us we are to keep ourselves in the love of God.  I can guarantee that when you choose to do that, your life will be happier, and  you will be a blessing to all those with whom you come into contact.

                    Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.