Further insights from The Love Chapter

Hi readers, this is a continuation of the previous entry..

was just looking through the Study Bible after doing my own reflections.. Just feel like posting some of the points that really struck me as so very true..

Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body. Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power produce very little without love. Love makes our actions and gifts useful. Although people have different gifts, love is available to everyone.

v4 (Love is patient): Sometimes, we're irritated or angered by others, and we don't know why. Not all irritability stems from sinful or selfish motives, although the irritable treatment of others surely is wrong. Much irritability comes from a love of perfection, a deep desire that programs, meetings, and structures be run perfectly. A desire to run things perfectly can erupt into anger at events or people who get in the way or ruin that desire. Those who are easily irritated need to remember that perfection exists only in God. We need to love Him and our fellow Christians, not the visions we have for perfection here on earth.

v4-7: Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God's kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against out natural inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return. Thus the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others.

v13: Love is the greatest of human qualities and is an attribute of God Himself (1 John 4:8 ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.). Love involves unselfish service to others. Faith is the foundation and content of God's message; hope is the attitude and focus; love is action. When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand how God loves. Does your faith fully express itself in loving others?

was just reminded of the prophecy Jie Hui had for me when he prayed for me regarding this (at the time for prayer at the end of the camp).. he said that if I want to have more love, I have to park myself under God's love. it's not so much about how much I tried to love but about which love I park myself under.. when I choose to daily park myself in perfect love, God will perfect the love I have for others.. Thank you God for making it so simple, really!

Still growing in love,
Chingster