LOVE SCRIPTUREFINED ĪV

As we’ve been doing in the last blog posts, we’ve been talking about love. It’s been, as the subtitle says, scripturefined into many directions and dimensions.

We’ll be progressing further by continuing from the anchor chapter we stopped in; 1 Corinthians 13

10. KJV: But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
NLT: But when the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear.

– I absolutely love the way NLT put it! When death comes, the use of this gift comes to an end. That particular gift that makes you proud would no longer be potent.

If only all believers can understand this.

Love is the only nature that can stand the test of time. If you do not show or express love, your spiritual dominance or stamina is a waste.

Why?

This is because spiritual gifts are meant to help you yield more to a life of love, holiness and righteousness. You cannot be holy and righteous without love. Living holy is living loving, as I said before.

All things end here on earth except love. As a believer, our gaze should be fixed on heaven. Our hearts, souls, bodies and spirit should be consumed in the euphoria of spending eternity in heaven.

If our lives are replicating the picture I painted above, showing love wouldn’t be a problem at all. This is because everyone would be looking unto validation from God and not from men. You would seek to be righteous (right with God) and not prideful.

11. KJV: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
NLT: It’s like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

– Childishness should only be found in children! It would be immature of an adult to be engaging in childish activities. As the days go by, we must shed off some character traits and attitude.

As I grow older and the more I’m exposed to some things, the more intentional I become about my daily activities and duties. I realize that I am no longer a baby.

There are things that I should do that would brighten my future. As a young person, if I do not do them now, it would go a long way in affecting my future. One of such things is making crucial decisions on paths to take.

The way of love or the way of the flesh?

Love is a character trait found in mature and yielding Christians. I would only call you a mature believer when, to some certain level, you have mastered and understood the purpose and intent of love.

Not just understanding but actually walking in that understanding. Love is not easy, mature believers do not do ‘easy’ things. They do things that would make them less of themselves and more like Him.

Love makes you less of you and more like Him. That’s why a mother can look up to a son living the life Christ intended and say “You are like a mini Jesus to me.” Not for any reason but for the fact that through his love nature, he represented Christ well.

12. KJV: 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.
NLT: Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.

– We cannot understand the impact of love now. Neither can we grasp the full extent of God’s love. When we get home and see all the heavenly treasures, then we would understand the depth of Christ’s love for us.

We say we love Him daily but we are only speaking from an incomplete understanding. When we meet Him face to face, in our Father’s kingdom and see all of the things happening in the world and in heaven, we would understand what He did for us.

Yes, we might try to imagine what heaven seems like but trust me, nothing beats looking at it by yourself. At that point, you would have a full grasp of what Jesus did.

For now, we should live and walk in the light and understanding of the word of God. We must replicate all that is in the bible, as Christ intended.

And may God help us do so.
Amen!

Our next blog post will mark an end to our series on LOVE. Till we are stirred in that direction again.

Have a good day!
#GrowingInGrace