Love 1 Cor. 13 Tom & Joyce's Diamond Wedding Anniversary

1 Corinthians 13 NKJV

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love: what do we mean by it? Love is practical. Love does good. Love – is to seek the betterment of others. It is putting others before ourselves. Love is not airy fairy – it is concrete, it can be seen, it is not a notion – it is easy to love the people of Thailand but our next door neighbours – no way! Or the kids who come along and are disruptive – AWAY with you! Love breaks down barriers – looks for a way through. This is no illusion – we are to love – this is no romantic idea – I fancy him or her – I’m in love – this is not the love we are talking about – but it is a love that is unconditional, that lays life down for others, love is what Jesus did on the cross, God... is... love.

God, our supreme example: gave us life, did not discard us when we rebelled, gave us the most precious gift before we were willing to change; God was a risk-taker – He knew that some would reject and not many would accept.

People are starving for love. 250,000 people go missing in the UK every year. They do not realised that they will be missed. That someone loves them. Whilst there are various reasons why people go missing such as crime some simply cannot take their lives anymore and go on the run. There is an innate desire to be loved.

Love.

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me."

Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you've convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that your're getting a divorce. That will really hurt him." With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!" And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting "as if." For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing. When she didn't return, Crane called. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?"

"Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him." Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often repeated deeds.

It is as we practice love – first by an act of will, then out of habit that we find that we love naturally just as by nature God is love. We have the Holy Spirit in us to enable us to love – he has shed abroad his love in our hearts. Now all we have to do is do it.