What if we dared to examine our lives through how we give, receive, use or fail to use love? The LOVE letter is a place where we talk about what it means to live love, tested by life-- anchored in Biblical truths. The url for the site is agape (unconditional love), epistle (letter). I believe that the Holy Bible is God's eternal love letter to His people, and that we are His love letter (2 Corinthians 3:3) to a world that He wants to redeem (John 3:16).
But what does that mean exactly? We will search for what His love letter means and what it means for us to be a love letter. This conversation should challenge us to be living explanations of the most divine, and put the very best of us not only on Facebook, emails and blogs, but in our hearts which will pour out in our lives. I believe that if we can learn to love better the rest of our lives will be better. After all, what are the two greatest commandments? According to Jesus, the first is to: "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40)".
We will celebrate people who are exemplifying what it means to be a living love letter, and challenge ourselves on how we can better practice the greatest commandments.
For the first part of the series, we will go through 1st Corinthians 13.
You can use the series as a weekly devotional, or dialog about the issues raised in the posts. But please, don't just read-- be engaged (James 1:22).
Let's go.....
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love... what a wonderful and empowering term. Until people began to truly understand the power, meaning and effects of this term, in return is when we will be able to become a living love letter. This blog spot is a great idea and I pray that it will impact many in a way where they will love with a pure heart.
ReplyDeleteBrandi
This Blog is very timely! "Living Love Letters"...what a simple way to look at this life we live with Christ!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an awesome blog. Love is so often confused for other things: infatuation, lust, pain, romance, etc. But as 1 John 4:16 & 17 says (in part), "We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect..." I've always loved this scripture because it really hits on what has to be central to our lives to exhibit love in the right way. We have to live in love in order to live in God and then God lives in you, making it easier to live in love. I know 1 Corinthians 13 was very hard (and often still is very hard) for me to exhibit with everyone. But the word says that if we do not love those we can see, how can we love Him whom we have not seen? (1 John 4:20).
ReplyDeleteThank you for prompting me to even think about this. The Lord has really been touching my heart in this area, reminding me daily to reach out to and show others that I love them, not just giving them lip service. God bless your ministry :)