Love is a verb by Bob Longo
In an effort to both provide more varied content. As wells as further exsposure to Christian writers everywhere. I will be posting material by various brothers and sisters in Christ from time to time.
I now present Love is a verb by Mr Bob Longo.
Enjoy!
Clyde
That’s right Love is something we do. In the world we live in today, you may find that hard to believe. We watch TV, read a book; even the music we listen to, leads us to believe that love is a chemical reaction, or a feeling that is uncontrollable. When we fall in love, we will hear sirens, whistlers, and see skyrockets. When we find “that certain someone”, we want to be with him or her all the time. The strong magical bond of love holds us together, and makes us inseparable. As if this “feeling called love“, is some kind of emotional super glue.
Unfortunately, statistics indicate otherwise. The divorce rate in the US is about 49%; our super glue is starting to sound more like a super lubricant. Before anyone begins to think I’m some sort of marriage counselor looking for business, I’m not. I am a sinner and as the saying goes, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. The objective is to share what I have learned from my mistakes, and more importantly, what God tells us in the Bible.
So, if love isn’t sirens, whistles, and fireworks; what is it? 1John 4:16 seems like a great place to start, it tells us, “God is love”. Since God is love, without God there is no love. It follows that we need God to have love in a relationship. Where should we start? Fist and foremost we need a personal relationship with God. Second, if we’re talking about a romantic relationship with someone of the opposite sex here on earth, we need God it that relationship too. In 2Corinthians 6:14 God tells us “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers”. This is a very important item. If you are not both true believers, you will encounter many stumbling blocks. Your relationship will be like trying to do a paint by numbers kit, with both of you using a different number-to-color chart. From the beginning of the relationship, make God the dominant figure, pray together; study the Bible together, not just on the Lord’s Day, but every day.
The Bible (KJV) mentions the word love 311 times in 281 verses. Let us see what we can learn about love from God’s word. The first place we find an example of romantic love in the Bible starts Genesis 29 and continues through chapter 50. Jacob falls in love with Rachel. He works seven years for her father to receive her as his bride, only to find out that he must first marry Leah, Rachel’s older sister. Jacob then works another seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage. What a great sacrifice, fourteen years Jacob worked for Rachel. But Jacob was not the only one to sacrifice. What about Leah? She was hated by Jacob (Gen 29:31). Didn’t she sacrifice a lot for Jacob’s love? She stayed married to Jacob until her death; she bore him six sons and a daughter. Leah even traded her son’s mandrakes so she could spend time with Jacob. It appears by the story of Jacob, the LORD is telling us; in order to love we must sacrifice for the other person. Another thing the LORD teaches as we continue the story is that we must forgive. Even as Esau forgave Jacob, and Joseph forgave his brothers.
Does God tell us whom we should love? In Matthew 22:36-38 we read “ Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” God should be our first love, But how should we should we show our love for God? God tells us in Exodus 20:6 “And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments,” And again in John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Again, God is telling us we must sacrifice; abandon our fleshly desires and obey his commands to show love him.
Does the Bible tell us to love anyone else? Over thirty times the Bible tells us to love our neighbors, one another or our enemies. The Bible says to forgive as in Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” God tells us of the importance of forgiveness in Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” How many times should we forgive? “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21)
To love we must take action (Love is a verb).
How does this work into our daily lives?
One, Put God first in your life; “ We love him, because he first loved us. (1John4:19)
Second, If your looking for a spouse, look for a true believer you can share your love of God with. 2Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers”.
Third, Sacrifice, Give of yourself, your time, put your loved ones first. Remember, it’s not about you.
Forth, Forgive, “say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21), And after you have forgiven don’t bring the subject up again. God shows us this by example in Isaiah 43:25: I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Fifth, Pray, alone, and together, 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.”
Last, But surely not least; Read and Study the bible, Romans 10:17, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God bless you all
rglongo@comcast.net
I now present Love is a verb by Mr Bob Longo.
Enjoy!
Clyde
That’s right Love is something we do. In the world we live in today, you may find that hard to believe. We watch TV, read a book; even the music we listen to, leads us to believe that love is a chemical reaction, or a feeling that is uncontrollable. When we fall in love, we will hear sirens, whistlers, and see skyrockets. When we find “that certain someone”, we want to be with him or her all the time. The strong magical bond of love holds us together, and makes us inseparable. As if this “feeling called love“, is some kind of emotional super glue.
Unfortunately, statistics indicate otherwise. The divorce rate in the US is about 49%; our super glue is starting to sound more like a super lubricant. Before anyone begins to think I’m some sort of marriage counselor looking for business, I’m not. I am a sinner and as the saying goes, been there, done that, got the t-shirt. The objective is to share what I have learned from my mistakes, and more importantly, what God tells us in the Bible.
So, if love isn’t sirens, whistles, and fireworks; what is it? 1John 4:16 seems like a great place to start, it tells us, “God is love”. Since God is love, without God there is no love. It follows that we need God to have love in a relationship. Where should we start? Fist and foremost we need a personal relationship with God. Second, if we’re talking about a romantic relationship with someone of the opposite sex here on earth, we need God it that relationship too. In 2Corinthians 6:14 God tells us “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers”. This is a very important item. If you are not both true believers, you will encounter many stumbling blocks. Your relationship will be like trying to do a paint by numbers kit, with both of you using a different number-to-color chart. From the beginning of the relationship, make God the dominant figure, pray together; study the Bible together, not just on the Lord’s Day, but every day.
The Bible (KJV) mentions the word love 311 times in 281 verses. Let us see what we can learn about love from God’s word. The first place we find an example of romantic love in the Bible starts Genesis 29 and continues through chapter 50. Jacob falls in love with Rachel. He works seven years for her father to receive her as his bride, only to find out that he must first marry Leah, Rachel’s older sister. Jacob then works another seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage. What a great sacrifice, fourteen years Jacob worked for Rachel. But Jacob was not the only one to sacrifice. What about Leah? She was hated by Jacob (Gen 29:31). Didn’t she sacrifice a lot for Jacob’s love? She stayed married to Jacob until her death; she bore him six sons and a daughter. Leah even traded her son’s mandrakes so she could spend time with Jacob. It appears by the story of Jacob, the LORD is telling us; in order to love we must sacrifice for the other person. Another thing the LORD teaches as we continue the story is that we must forgive. Even as Esau forgave Jacob, and Joseph forgave his brothers.
Does God tell us whom we should love? In Matthew 22:36-38 we read “ Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” God should be our first love, But how should we should we show our love for God? God tells us in Exodus 20:6 “And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments,” And again in John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Again, God is telling us we must sacrifice; abandon our fleshly desires and obey his commands to show love him.
Does the Bible tell us to love anyone else? Over thirty times the Bible tells us to love our neighbors, one another or our enemies. The Bible says to forgive as in Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” God tells us of the importance of forgiveness in Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” How many times should we forgive? “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21)
To love we must take action (Love is a verb).
How does this work into our daily lives?
One, Put God first in your life; “ We love him, because he first loved us. (1John4:19)
Second, If your looking for a spouse, look for a true believer you can share your love of God with. 2Corinthians 6:14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers”.
Third, Sacrifice, Give of yourself, your time, put your loved ones first. Remember, it’s not about you.
Forth, Forgive, “say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21), And after you have forgiven don’t bring the subject up again. God shows us this by example in Isaiah 43:25: I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Fifth, Pray, alone, and together, 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.”
Last, But surely not least; Read and Study the bible, Romans 10:17, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God bless you all
rglongo@comcast.net
posted by Clyde | 12:00 PM
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