Real Love

We were reading from 1 Corinthians chapter 13, at our nursing home ministry, this past Sunday. Paul speaks of what real, true love is. Paul said that, even if he were to speak like the angels, if he didn't have love, he would just be making a lot of noise. He said that even if he had great spiritual gifts, and understood all things, and had great faith to do great things, if he didn't have love, he was nothing. If he performed many, great spiritual things, if he didn't have love, he would gain nothing.

The world doesn't really understand what REAL love is. We confuse love, with lust. Paul said love is patient, and kind, and not selfish. Lust is just the opposite. When it's all about what we want, no matter what it takes to get it, that isn't love, but lust. True love will last for an eternity, while lust will fade. Feelings come and go, so does lust. Everything in the world will fade away eventually, but love will carry on.

Paul said that we are like children. He said that when he was a child, he spoke as a child, understood as a child, and thought like a child; but when he became a man, he put away childish things. That's the way we are. Right now, we think we know all things, but we only know in part. We only see in shadows, and reflections. When Jesus comes, we will see Him face to face, and see what REAL love truly is. When we see Him, we will say " I GET IT NOW. I UNDERSTAND NOW". Only then will we understand how great a love He had for us. A love so great, He laid down His life for us, who were so unworthy of His great love.

In closing, he said we now have faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love. Without love, we can't fully have faith and hope. The world will know whose we are, by our love. God is love, therefore, we are children of love. How great and awesome is our God!!! amen.