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LoveisNot…. February8,2009 TodaywebeginoursecondsermonlookingatthetruenatureofLove. Wemustbeginbytakingjustamomenttoreviewthefirstportionof thisimportantchapter.Thechapterisnotaboutromanticlove, althoughitisreadatalotofweddings!Itiswrittenhereinthisletter tothechurchinCorinthbecausetheyarefightingaboutwhichofthe spiritualgiftsandwhichofthemasmembersandministersismore importanttothelifeofthechurch.Paulwantedtoremindthemthat themostimportantthingintheChristiantheologyandpracticewas love.TheChristianMessageisthatGodSoLovedtheWorldthatHe senthisSonJesustocomeandbethesavioroftheworld.AndThatwe oughttoloveoneanother. Paulgoesonbeautifullytosaythatevenifweareangelicinour speakingability,ifitisnotdoinginloveitaccomplishesnothing.We mighthavethefaithneededtomovemountains,orhavegreat knowledgeandknowallkindsofcoolthings…butifwedon'thavelove, whatgoodisit.Loveisreallytheheartofwhoweareashumanbeings, becausewearemadeinGod'simage…andGodislove. Loveisnotafeelingthatoverwhelmsus.No.loveissomethingthatwe choosetodo,itisamatterofthewillandthemindasmuchatthe heartandtheemotions.Theemotionsriseandfalllikethetides…with ourphysicalstrengthandhealth,ourageandallsortsoffactors.Butwe canchoosetoovercomethem,liveandlovethroughthemandmake lovestrongerandbetterforit.Asksomeonewhohasbeenwell marriedfor50years…theywilltellyouthatthereareseasonsinevery marriage,upsanddowns,butthroughitalltheirlovegrowsdeeperand strongerandbetter.

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Loveispatient…thewordhereisslowtoanger..literallyslowburning. Lovedoesnotflyoffthehandleandsaythingsthatitwillregretlater. Howharditistotakebackthoseharshwordsthatcutsodeep.Wemay saywearesorryandevenforgiveoneanother,butthewoundisstill thereforalongtimetocome.Itissomuchbettertonevercutinthe firstplace.Loveispatient…longsuffering. AndLoveiskind.Loveisfullofsmallactofgraceandlittleactsof tendernessandfun.Simplethingsyoudojustbecauseyoucare. Nothingbig.Nottobenoticed.Norecognition,noacknowledgement. Justbecause.Lovethinksoftheotherpersonandlooksforwaysto makethemsmileandtomaketheirdaybetter…tolightentheirload andshowthemthatyoucareforthem.Whetheritishelpingoutin somewayaroundthehouseorputtingaflowerontheseatoftheircar beforeyouleaveforworkinthemorning,anoteintheirlunchbox,or theircoatpocket,orachocolateontheirpillow…somethingsmall,fun andcaring.Loveiskind. Butthereisalotconfusionaboutwhatloveisandisn't.Inancient timesandinours.TheApostlePaulhasquitealisthere,whichIbelieve isnotexhaustive,butismerelyexemplaryofthekindsofthingsloveis not.Heregoessomeofthem: Lovedoesnot: Envy Thelovingpersondoesnotcovetwhattheotherpersonhasnor dotheybegrudgethemtheirsuccesses.Saidpositively,theloving personwantsthebestfortheirbelovedandrejoiceswhenthey succeed. Thisreallyflowsfromasenseofselfworthandsecurity.Ifthe otherpersonisreallyinsecure,theywillbejealousorenviousandreally notwantthebelovedtodobetterthanthem.Rememberthose

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