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1 Corinthians 13:3-7
3
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
(KJV)
7
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
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How do we know if we are being loving, or simply comfortable with doing what feels right.
If I give to charity to enjoy a clear conscience, I am not being loving, I am simply paying to justify my desire. If I give away all I have to be free of worldliness, I am doing so to justify my own convictions.
So what is it to be loving? In the case of charity, it is done out of kindness, it is done because that is how we would have ourselves be treated. Selfless giving is done without the consideration of personal consequence. In the case of sufferance, it is done without bitterness, without seeking or expecting recognition. To be loving is to have what is perfect, come through us in our imperfect state.
Paul says, "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.." That is to say, when love is our purpose, it is what we act on; not of us. This is an understanding. Love, here, is holiness acted on through the living. Love leads us to have faith, carry hope, and to persevere. So, when we act on love, all things are possible.
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Matthew 19:36
36
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
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God is love. When we act on this holiness that is places upon us, there is a sincerity that clarifies. We can not be self serving and loving at the same time. We can not hold a grudge and be loving at the same time. Having said that, we can discern if what we do is done in love, or in what we consider right.
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Matthew 26:39
39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
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Jesus suffered his humanity till his last breath. He felt fear and he felt doubt. But, we know he did his Father's will no matter what was placed in front of him. This is an understanding. In our day, we will always react to what is placed in front of us. But it is love that lends to perfection, that is, holiness to come through us in our acts. To do the will of God, is to believe in His Son. To believe in His Son, is to love. Love the Father with our heart, mind and soul. And love one another. And this is accomplished by putting ourselves aside, and having our actions deliver what we cannot on our own.
We then know in confidence, that love will not fail us.
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