Wednesday, November 07, 2007 :)
LOVE
Hmmm, learnt a lot about love during QT today. Kinda made me think a lot. Strange thing was the topic was on "Conflict with others" due to our sinful nature. Haha. Wouldn't have expected the subject of love to have hit me so hard, but it did.
If only the spirit of self-assertion could be replaced by the spirit of self-sacrifice, our conflicts would cease. Self-sacrifice is what the Bible means by 'love'. While sin is possessive, love is expansive. Sin's characteristic is the desire to get; love's characteristic is the desire to give.
And there was a little poem below that section.
Love ever gives,
Forgives, outlives,
And ever stands with open hands,
And while it lives it gives.
For this is love's prerogative,
To give - and give - and give.
Many times, it's easy to become self-centred. Wait, we are by nature, self-centred. Yet the call to love, is the very same call to put aside this self-centredness and put others before ourselves.
Impossible, isn't it? At least it seems so. To give the better to somebody else, to look after them before ourselves, to sacrifice what we would have, so that they would be happier.
And it occurred to me how difficult it is. Even for the people I love most, sometimes I want the best for myself, I want it all to be about me. So, is this really love? Having people love me? Getting the best for myself at the expense of others?
No, that isn't what it's about. Love is about giving. Love comes with sacrifice. Love isn't just a nice word that you say when you're happy. Love comes with responsibility.
Yes, I do want to love. Show true love. Practical love. I want to give, without thinking about what I need, because I know I have my provider. I want to give and bless, as I have been blessed. But I can't do it on my own, I know I'll need His grace and power. But slowly, with His love and power at work in my life, I will love the way He wants me to love :)
What, ho, what, ho, what, ho!12:55:00 pm
