PATHWAYS TO FAITH: Give The Gift Of Love! Part 3
As
we continue our study of the more excellent life of love encouraged by
the Apostle Paul is in I Corinthians, Chapter 13, we look at the final
eight attributes of genuine agape love to finish our formula for
victorious living. Attribute number nine is that love keeps no record of
wrong done to us.
This means that we cannot think evil of
others and continuously focus on the wrongs that we have suffered. To
behave in this manner will lead to resentment and bitterness. Love
endures evil and keeps its focus on the truth. 10. Love does not delight
in evil. Paul says that love does not take pleasure in doing what is
unrighteous in the sight of God or man.
In other words, if we
have the love of Christ within us, the ability to do what is wrong still
exists but if we do wrong we will be miserable and find no joy in doing
evil deeds. Rather than engage in evil, number eleven teaches that love
rejoices with the Truth.
Love rejoices when the truth is
finally discovered. We can rejoice in all situations because when the
truth of God is within us we always have the victory. Next we see that
Love bears all things always protecting us from straying away from
righteousness to engage in wickedness.
Paul is saying that love
has the power to cover every area of life and to give us the strength we
need to support every area of life. Love gives us the supernatural
Continued on Page 10 strength to stand in the face of adversity and
trust God to do what is best for us. Our 13th attribute for victorious
living teaches us that real agape love always trusts or at least expects
the best from others. The word Paul uses here means to have a perfect
trust. Love gives us an ability to have a divine trust that helps us to
see God’s work in our lives. It also gives us the ability to see the
best in others. The fourteenth behavior we see in the victorious
Christian is that love always hopes for the best in every situation.
Paul says that love literally never loses hope and gives us the
expectation of finding triumph in every life experience. Love refuses to
accept failure but is always clinging to the hope provided by our faith
in Christ Jesus. We continue our discussion by noting that next we are
reminded that love always perseveres regardless of what we may perceive
in the natural realm. Paul uses a military word here that means to
withstand an attack. This means that the love of Christ is our strength
and acts as our fortress during an attack. Love endures every assault
that comes against it and stands firm until the victory is won. The love
of God gives us the ability to love even in the most difficult of
circumstances.
This principle of perseverance is reinforced by
Paul’s final characteristic, “Love never fails.” Paul closes his
definition of love with a bold statement that love never fails. In other
words, the love of Christ is always successful. The power of our lives
is found in the reality that Christ’s love gives us the ability to
succeed according to the standards set by God for victorious living in
His kingdom. In essence, love describes the very character of Jesus
Himself and if we want to become more like Him we must allow His love to
penetrate the deepest corners of our hearts. To enjoy the victorious
and abundant life Jesus has promised the believer, we must be willing
and open our heart and mind to be filled with the love of Christ. This
is “A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.” As you consider the gifts you will give this
holiday season, consider giving the most excellent gift we can give to
one another, the gift of LOVE. I encourage all to pray and allow the
love of God to abide in you this holiday season and throughout the
coming year.
Dr. Holley is the Senior Pastor at Pathways Christian Fellowship in Bradenton, Florida.
Contact Dr. Holley at Wholley777@aol.com.WWW.Pathwayscfc.org
