Love In Action
BRD REFLECTIONS
1 Corinthians 13 and Psalm 75 (NIV)
(Koh Geok Cheng, Assistant Treasurer, LCEC)
READ:
1 Corinthians 13 and Psalm 75 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
1 Corinthians 13 is a familiar passage on love. In the first 3 verses, Paul described himself as having nothing even if he had everything but not love.
Why is love important? It is because of God’s love for us. God has created and provided everything for us by His indescribable love. We have been saved from our sins through Jesus Christ because of God’s amazing love for us. As God has shown and taught us love, we are called by God to love.
Love is not just an emotion, not a feeling about someone or something. Love is a verb, it requires action as described in various ways in verses 4 to 7.
4 “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.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
APPLY:
It is easy to show love to someone who is pleasing to us or to respond in love when the situation is smooth-sailing. When we deal with difficult people or encounter challenging situations, it is not easy to show love. However, I need to remember and be thankful that God has shown me love even when I have been difficult or challenging to Him. I have to learn from God to respond with love, to reflect His love so that more may know Him.
This is a timely reminder for me in this season as I deal a lot with elderly people at home and in church ministry. I have to be more patient, understanding, gracious and not get angry easily. I should not think that I am always right and I do not make mistakes because I am younger and can work faster. In fact, God humbled me recently when I made an error in the order of programme at a seniors’ event in church. I realised the error only in the midst of it. I thank God for His love shown to me by my fellow volunteers who graciously encouraged me and did not blame me. God enabled everything to turn out fine at the end.
DO:
I have to remember how God has shown me His love and to remember to show love to others in all situations.
I have to do daily examen to see where I have not shown love and seek God’s forgiveness, repent and change my ways to show more love next time.
I have to be intentional in taking the next steps in discipleship to be moulded by God through His Word to respond in love.
PRAY:
Dear Father God, thank You for Your indescribable and amazing love shown to us in many ways. Though You have called us to love, I am sorry for the times that I have not shown love when I was angry, impatient and unkind. Please forgive me. Help me to remember what Your love looks like and give me the humility of heart and willingness of the flesh to take the next steps to change my old sinful ways that do not reflect Your love and be transformed by Your Word to reflect more of Your love. May I grow in discipleship to respond in love as I seek to walk right with You in love as I have been made right by You through Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
