LOVE NEVER FAILS - HEART CHECKUP TIME

1 Corinthians 13

This morning as with most, what God puts on my heart to speak to you about I need to hear just as much as you! Today’s topic is no different and perhaps based on what was being put on my heart while biking last evening, praying, and listening to come songs from Casting Crowns really spoke to me that I needed to check my heart in this area!

And the area is founded on 1 Corinthians 13 or as more commonly known as the definition of LOVE. While I would have to say, this is not typically an area that I at least visually seem to struggle with as I am usually quite expressive in my LOVE for others and will typically put others first I really felt God put it on my heart yesterday that specifically when it comes to someone who is dear to my heart, and perhaps as is the case in with one as hurt me really bad that though I still exhibit on the surface unconditional Love at the core of my heart I have less than stellar thoughts that need to be dealt with.

But even this morning, I read in 2 Thessalonians 3:15….”Do not treat them as enemies but rather warn them as believers. Well while not of my choice we are not on speaking terms so warning as a believer is not possible in person, it is in prayer because this verse spoke multitudes to me as the hurt I experienced was causing me to view them as an enemy! And while I know the LOVE my enemies I have had difficulties staying true to what 1 Corinthians teaches us as I have allowed my mind to try to rationalize how they could treat me the way they were especially after all I had invested in their lives and all the goodness God used me for to help them grow.

What made matters worse is knowing I did nothing to deserve the treatment I was receiving. It clearly was causing a calising of my heart, hurt, feeling rejected, and dishonored by the attacking of my integrity that I had experienced when they out of the blue turned on me.

But where I fell short because I can only be responsible for my actions or reactions was not in line with the core of Love found in 1 Corinthians verses 4-7.

But before Ig go on let me remind you what the scripture says… “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.”

Now that we have that fresh in our minds let me share what the verse would look like in my heart after being hurt!

“Love is patient, love is kind when all is going well. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud unless we are hurt, offended or belittled. 5 It does not dishonor others unless they have wronged you then you are free to share it with others and speak bad about them and cover it up with your just sharing what happened. Love is not self-seeking unless it is being withheld and you are feeling cheated, it is not easily angered unless the person just doesn’t seem to be hearing from God and appears to be treating you the exact opposite of Jesus who they profess Lord, it keeps no record of wrongs though these wrongs run through my head and but of my lips because they should know better. 6 Love does not delight in evil but after all they certainly do not deserve to get away so perhaps it is okay if I wish for them to be unhappy and then I can rejoice in the truth they are getting what they deserve. 7 It always protects those who deserve protecting but when they hurt me their honor and safety is less on my mind, they have given me reason not to trust, to be negative and not hopeful, and quite frankly I feel like throwing in the towel and writing them off.”

Wow as Joyce Meyers says that is some stinking thinking and that is what God showed me yesterday was at the core of my heart. Instead of a long lecture he summed it up in one simple song that came on just as the right time after he revealed my current heart condition and led me to pray for forgiveness and help from him and to speak forgiveness to my offender in faith as I am not able to do so in person both asking them for forgiveness and dropping the charges and forging them!

The song wa Casting Crowns Love Them LIke Jesus and has me weeping that for as long as I had been walking with the Lord that I had let the enemy get a foothold and cause me to stumble and not just a bit like is normal but for nearly 2 months where I have convinced myself my unconditional love had not changed as it might appear on the outside but it certainly had at the core and that being at my heart and mind level.