We all know it. It is the word that has it's own holiday. It is the word that litters our Facebook news feeds on anniversaries. It is the word that has awarded Taylor Swift many awards.
"Love."
Don't get me wrong. "Love" is a great word. It has so much meaning, so much emotion behind it.
At least it did.
"Love" has become on of the most overused words in the English language. Teenage girls "love" Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING. My roommate, Rachel, "loves" One Direction and Candy Corn (trust me...it is borderline obsession.) I "love" not having 8 a.m. classes on Mondays.
That's just it. We "love" everything. We even "love" the word "love."
Love has lost it's meaning.
In continuation with my series in 1 Corinthians, I want to write tonight in reference to what I like to call "the wedding passage."
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
This passage in my Bible is titled "Love is Indispensable." Here, Paul gives us a clear definition of what love really is. Love is not a Pumpkin Spice Latte, because Pumpkin Spice Lattes are not patient or kind. Love is not a bowl of Candy Corn, because Candy Corn, no matter what Rachel may argue, cannot protect us. Love is not a canceled 8 a.m. class, because I definitely boast (loudly) about that blessing.
You see, love is not some object that we can just shoot around like Cupid's arrows. Love is an action verb. Love requires heart, commitment, and selflessness.
For the past three years, I have been blessed to date my boyfriend, Grant. Before we dated, we had both been in relationships before that for some reason or another were not in God's plan. Because of that, when we started dating in the middle of our high school careers, we took the "L" word slow. Honestly, I think we were both reluctant to say that we loved each other in fear of the other's reaction.
In three years, Grant and I have been through a lot. We have seen our fair share of jealousy, laughs, and troubles. No, not every day was perfect. No, not every moment was bliss. But, as my parents once told me, "everything worth anything is worth fighting for."
That being said, there is a reason why I call the above scripture "the wedding passage." At nearly every wedding that I have attended, the preacher has read these verses to the bride and groom. Before now, I never realized why.
In 1 Corinthians 1:2-3, Paul prefaces: "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
Why is love so important anyway?
1 John 4:19 says that "We love because He first loved us." You see, God gave us this incredible ability to care about and love on others so that we could share the grace, gentleness and love of Christ.
As Paul finishes in 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."
How could we just throw that around?
As much as I enjoy her entertainment, we cannot become Taylor Swift. We can't express our greatest adoration for something or someone, lose it, and then write a Grammy-winning song.
Just like any other God-given ability, "loving" is not a responsibility to take lightly. It is an honorable duty that we have as Christians to spread the word of Christ.
So, as I leave you this week, consider your greatest passions, your biggest accomplishments, and your grandest desires. What is it that you truly love?
Love is indispensable. Do not let its meaning slip away.
As always, thank you for reading. I really, genuinely "love" you all.
-Emily
"Love."
Don't get me wrong. "Love" is a great word. It has so much meaning, so much emotion behind it.
At least it did.
"Love" has become on of the most overused words in the English language. Teenage girls "love" Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING. My roommate, Rachel, "loves" One Direction and Candy Corn (trust me...it is borderline obsession.) I "love" not having 8 a.m. classes on Mondays.
That's just it. We "love" everything. We even "love" the word "love."
Love has lost it's meaning.
In continuation with my series in 1 Corinthians, I want to write tonight in reference to what I like to call "the wedding passage."
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
This passage in my Bible is titled "Love is Indispensable." Here, Paul gives us a clear definition of what love really is. Love is not a Pumpkin Spice Latte, because Pumpkin Spice Lattes are not patient or kind. Love is not a bowl of Candy Corn, because Candy Corn, no matter what Rachel may argue, cannot protect us. Love is not a canceled 8 a.m. class, because I definitely boast (loudly) about that blessing.
You see, love is not some object that we can just shoot around like Cupid's arrows. Love is an action verb. Love requires heart, commitment, and selflessness.
For the past three years, I have been blessed to date my boyfriend, Grant. Before we dated, we had both been in relationships before that for some reason or another were not in God's plan. Because of that, when we started dating in the middle of our high school careers, we took the "L" word slow. Honestly, I think we were both reluctant to say that we loved each other in fear of the other's reaction.
In three years, Grant and I have been through a lot. We have seen our fair share of jealousy, laughs, and troubles. No, not every day was perfect. No, not every moment was bliss. But, as my parents once told me, "everything worth anything is worth fighting for."
That being said, there is a reason why I call the above scripture "the wedding passage." At nearly every wedding that I have attended, the preacher has read these verses to the bride and groom. Before now, I never realized why.
In 1 Corinthians 1:2-3, Paul prefaces: "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
Why is love so important anyway?
1 John 4:19 says that "We love because He first loved us." You see, God gave us this incredible ability to care about and love on others so that we could share the grace, gentleness and love of Christ.
As Paul finishes in 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."
How could we just throw that around?
As much as I enjoy her entertainment, we cannot become Taylor Swift. We can't express our greatest adoration for something or someone, lose it, and then write a Grammy-winning song.
Just like any other God-given ability, "loving" is not a responsibility to take lightly. It is an honorable duty that we have as Christians to spread the word of Christ.
So, as I leave you this week, consider your greatest passions, your biggest accomplishments, and your grandest desires. What is it that you truly love?
Love is indispensable. Do not let its meaning slip away.
As always, thank you for reading. I really, genuinely "love" you all.
-Emily