True Love

As you may know, I am reading the Purpose Driven Life and yesterday's topic was on love. I found the timing to be perfect because that is something I had already be focusing on with some friends of mine. I really liked how Pastor Warren described love and how it is shown. I wanted to share with you some of these truths and hopefully, these words can bless you today.

Galatians 5:14 - The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Did you know that life is all about love? I want to quote a paragraph from Rick Warren's book for a moment. The reason is that I know more than one person that does not understand and is going through this in their life. A misunderstanding of love.

The Purpose Driven Life (pg 127) The essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves. Men, in particular, often don't understand this. Many have said to me, "I don't understand my wife and kids. I provide everything they need. What more could they want?" They want you! Your eyes, your ears, your time, your attention, your presence, your focus -- your time. Nothing can take the place of that.
The most desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolate. It is focused attention. Love concentrates so intently on another that you forget yourself at that moment. Attention says, "I value you enough to give you my most precious asset -- my time." Whenever you give your time, you are making a sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of love.....You can give without loving, but you can not love without giving.

There are so many good, deep points mentioned just in those two paragraphs. The entire chapter was full of good nuggets of information like that. I could go over much more but don't have the time and can't do it as well as Rick Warren did in chapter 16 of The Purpose Driven Life; I recommend this book by the way. A summary would be that Love is the most important gift we can give. Love is forever and without it, life is worthless. 1 Cor 13:3 "No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love." The gift of love is a gift of our time and devotion. Time is something we never get back. Every minute that goes by brings you one minute closer to your last breath. We need to make the best of every moment.

Relationships are what life is all about and we need to be sure we make the best of them. It is not going to be your Xbox or other things you held dear in your life that you ask for on your deathbed, you will ask for those you love. Love is the greatest gift and the greatest commandment given to us by God. You need to read God's Word and seek a true and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ if you are to fully understand and comprehend love. It is not till you see as He sees that you can fully grasp the depth and scale of what is required. Oh to see and love as Jesus did. Imagine if everyone in the church loved unconditionally as Jesus did?!

Dear heavenly father, I come to you this morning with love on the mind. I know you sent your son to pay the ultimate sacrifice and lay down his life out of love for each of us. Help me to see through your eyes father. Help me to see the world and it's occupants in love. Teach me to love as you loved. Help me to grasp and understand the meaning of love and the truth of it all. God that I could be lost in your love to such an extent that it overflows into the lives of those around me. Take my selfishness and my ways God and transform my heart. I want a pure heart, full of love and compassion. Bless me today father, make me a vessel, use me I pray. Allow me to love unconditionally today and every day. May I be a light in the darkness reflecting truth and love. In Jesus name, Amen.