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Don Locke: Lookin Thru Bifocals

I’d planned this time to write on something else, but something told me (God’s Spirit) I needed to write on LOVE (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

The King James version in the new testament begins, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels and have met love, I have become as sounding brass on a tinkling symbol.”

The Living Bible makes it plainer: “If I had the gift of being able to speak in other languages without learning them; or able to speak every language on earth or in heaven, and didn’t love others, I would only be making noise.”

Well, lets look at love (1 Corinthians 4-6) the meat of it anyway. “Love is patient and kind.” At 86, I still wrestle with both of these. Someone said our prayers that say, “Lord, give me patience and kindness – and Lord, hurry up” is called an “oxymoron” or some kind of moron.

“Love is never jealous or envious” – Jealousy, envy and covetousness are all first cousins, or maybe chosen in kin.

“Never boastful or proud” - it’s okay to be proud of our own children; that’s not pride. Pride is when we think or say our children are better than your children – that’s not okay.

A look at boastful – some folks will brag on their own, but never on yours or even ask about yours or say your child sang well or played the piano well or played ball well.

We all like a compliment, but we are not to camp on it. This becomes self-centeredness. Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. It does not demand its own way. In Philippines 2 we read, “Jesus Christ, though he was God, did not demand his rights as God…”(Phil. 2, 5 & 6). The Bible tells us that God hates haughtiness.

I like this one: “Love hardly notices when others do it wrong” - This is a tough one. It demands God’s help.

First Corinthians 13 ends with, “There are three things that remain most important: faith, hope and love – the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13 -13)

“Let love be your greatest aim…” (1 Corinthians 14:1)

 

Love and kindest regards…

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