“The Greatest of These is Love” Wk 6

“I will greet this day with love in my heart.  For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures.  Muscle can split a shield and even destroy life but only the UNSEEN power of love can open the hearts of men….”       *Og Mandino

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I’ve thought about love considerably over the years.  To really love.  Love seeks an object.  Love ~ real love ~ is a rare commodity these days.  The word love is bandied about.  We love baseball, fishing, music, pizza, travelling and justice, to mention a few things.  But the highest delight of love is to know and love God, and love others with that love that He pours out to us and through us.

Love always seeks the good of the other.  In our dealings are we patient, kind,  wanting great success for others?   Do we crow like roosters with our amazing accomplishments?  Are we rudely pushing to have our own way?

Do we flare up when something ticks us off?   Do we want to pay back in kind, or get even?    Love does not rejoice when there is wrongdoing, but is thrilled with the truth.

Love bears (holds up) under all things,  has an attitude of belief, a positive receiving circuitry,  chooses an outlook of hopefulness in the face of life’s real struggles.  Hope Endures the ups and downs of life.

It seems to me that this kind of love comes in a sort of cluster ~ all those separate attitudes are actually one unit.   Because real love, this ‘cluster’ kind of love never fails.

And what is the character and purpose of real love?   Love is an action word.  It seeks the good of the other.  Spouse, child, parents, boss, community members. How do we from an attitude of the Love Cluster, truly love all these?   One might say then that we need to fulfill our responsibility to them in a full and complete manner with a ‘Love Cluster’ heart, whatever that role might be.  That’s the minimum.

But love is to go the extra mile too.  Love is to love and act according to the other’s need.  My spouse needs me differently than my neighbour,  but there may be times when much more than usual is required.  A Park Ranger recently rescued a man who was unconscious and drowning.  It was a risky terrifying thing to do.  More than most of us could have or would have done.   People risking life and limb for the good of others.

There’s a cost when one loves.  It’s about laying your agenda aside and doing what is needed.  Dare I say it ~ It can cost your life.  What do you give for the sake of love?

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  John 15:12 & 13 ………….