Thursday, August 7, 2014

Talk Tuesday-Love Does Not Encourage Sin

What is love? Popular culture tells us that love is self-seeking, it is the fulfillment of physical desire, it meets our needs, it has no parameters of definition, it is ours for the taking and it begins with us. Love also involves total acceptance without differentiation between what is right and what is wrong. What does the Bible tell us about love?

"7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:7-10

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

"23 Jesus replied, 'Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.'" John 14:23-24

"8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9

"5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, 'My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.'” Hebrews 12:5-6

"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 Love is sacrificial. It is determined by GOD, who is love. It begins with knowing Him, accepting His love, then continues in how we show it to others. It is not self-seeking. Its parameters are clearly defined by GOD and exemplified by Him. It rebukes, disciplining us in our rebellion. It does not lie. It forgives. It demands our total obedience to GOD.

Love hates sin but loves the sinner. This is the CROSS.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for an awe-inspiring post. May you both be blessed in and out of season.

Farah said...

Amen. May the love of Christ permeate our lives. God bless you and keep you!

Anonymous said...

What a comfort! Prais God