LOVE

9-25-11

What is love? How can it be defined? Is it an entity, or an essential part? When referring to God, it is an entity—God is love. But when referring to the meaning of the word “love” it has component parts, or abstracts many.

Compassion is an abstract of love. On one occasion, the multitude had followed Christ for three days, and all food had been eaten except five loaves and two small fish. Jesus said, “Bring them to me.” There was much grass there, and Jesus commanded them to sit in the grass in the companies of fifties, and looking on them with compassion, he turned his mind toward heaven as he gave thanks for the bread and fish. He began to break them into pieces and gave them to the Apostles, and they gave to the people, and they ate until they were filled, and Jesus said to gather up the fragments, so that nothing should be wasted.

Mercy is an abstract of love. Jesus said, “He that showeth mercy shall obtain mercy.” What does God require of thee, O Man, to be just and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God, and Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Chasten is a characteristic of love—for who he loveth, he chastiseth. Christ chastised Martha because he loved her. Rebuke a wise man and he will love you, rebuke a fool and he will hate you. Love is power, it casts out fear, hate, selfishness, greed, covetous, pride, ego, arrogance, and vengeance.

God is love personified. God is love personified. God said to Peter, “Lovest thou me more than these?” Peter could have said,” You know all things, why ask me? I’ve been wrong so many times, and besides you tell me not to judge. You know I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” He said two more time, “Lovest thou me?” and Peter was grieved that he asked the third time. Peter said, “You know I love you”, and Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

Love is manifested by what It gives and does. God loved us so much he gave his only begotten Son for us, and his Son gave all for us. We should show gratitude toward both God and Jesus for the love shown to us. Correction is for our benefit and we should show our love by thanksgiving and obedience. Perfect love casts out fear with a vengeance.

“Lovest thou me more than these”, indicates that some have a greater capacity for love than others. It may be because some have been forgiven so much more than others. If I had all faith so I could move mountains, or understand all mysteries and knowledge, and have not love, I have become as a sounding brass, or tinkling symbol. If I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, or give my body to be burned and have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind—it is not puffed up, thinketh no evil, endureth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things. Love never faileth, love is the bond of perfection. Everybody should grow a garden of love, so you could eat it, and spring of love, so you could drink it, so your belly would be full of love.

Someone once said that the good will of a dog was better than his growl. The reason the dog is man’s best friend is that he wagged his tail instead of his tongue. He that offends not in word is a perfect man. You can’t get sweet water and bitter water at the same fountain; if you do, there is a hypocrite in the spring.

What about love thinketh no evil? What about a mind that thinks no good? When I think of doing good, evil is present too. We overcome evil by doing good, for he that is in us is stronger than he that is in the world. The Apostle Paul prove this to the fullness of the letter, and gave Christ the honor by saying, “ It is not me, but Christ which liveth in me.” Thank God for the Apostle Paul after he found Christ, or rather, after Christ found Saul of Tarsus, and made Paul the Apostle out of him. Christ can make a new person out of you, if you will let him.

ORA BROWNING