A Better Love

Love changes everything, but not everything we call love is real love.

“...And I will show you an even better way.”1 Corinthians 12:31 HCSB 

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” ‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬ 

“Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT 

But I have this against you: You have left the love you had in the beginning. So remember where you were before you fell. Change your hearts and do what you did at first. If you do not change, I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place.” Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

Take love back-

 

Recognize where/when you have something to prove. Repent of it-

 

“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

Be passionate and compassionate about what Jesus was passionate and compassionate about-

 

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“Passion for God’s house will consume me.”‭‭John‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Set boundaries like Jesus set boundaries- 

 

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John‬ ‭13‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV

 

Don’t love scared-

 

Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭MSG‬‬