I thank the Lord for another opportunity to post the message, and I thank you for taking the time to read the message this week. I hope you are all having a good week.
Once again, we are studying the characteristics of a life that is filled with love for the Lord and others. We are examining what a life lived out looks like when it is lived in love.
For today's message, I want to us to continue to look at some of the characteristics of love as related to us by the Apostle Paul in his great chapter on love I Corinthians 13. In verse 5, it states in the NIV version that, "it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking." Some other versions translate this part a little bit differently. Many versions state that love is not rude. Let's look into all three of these.
First off, let's take the NIV translation of love does not dishonor others. A person that is living a life of love does not go about seeking to make other people look bad. In fact, I would say that a truly loving person would try to do whatever he or she could do in order to make a person appear in the best light possible. What I mean by this is that we should not in any way go about trying to tear people down. Instead, a loving person should try to build people up.
Let me try to give an example of this. When I was young, I went to a school operated by the church my parents attended. The atmosphere was very oppressive. One was always being told how terrible they were. On the other hand, when I went to a religious college a few years later, the opposite attitude was on display. There, the professors were always trying to build you up and make you feel that you could be successful. I think that a person with a loving heart wants to help and encourage people and not try to take away their dignity.
I think that love does not dishonor others has another application. Often, when people fall into a particular sin, churches and religious people can often make them feel more terrible about themselves than they already feel. Wouldn't it be better if in love we tried to encourage people to be their best and always remind them that Jesus loves them?
Now, as I mentioned, some Bible translations translate this a little different. Instead of the NIVs does not dishonor others, they say love is not rude. Being rude in my mind is different than dishonoring someone. So, let us look into this. Being rude means acting with bad manners. A person acting in love would be a person wanting to act in such a way that they were mannerly and pleasant. A loving person is someone that other people want to be around. A rude person doesn't care about anyone else's feelings. That is the opposite of love. Love cares about others and their feelings.
Our text for today also tells us that love is not self-seeking. How true this is. Love seeks the best for other people. Love is sacrificial.
When I was young, a minister once told me that the best way to live the Christian life is to put Jesus first in all things. Then we are to think of others and helping them with their needs. After this, comes us. A loving person doesn't have to meet their needs at the expense of someone else.
Just to sum things up. A person acting in love behaves in a way the encourages and helps others. They are not acting in the world just to get what they want when they want it. Living in love manifests itself in encouraging others and reminding them that Jesus cares about them. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I am feeling some better. I am still looking for a better job. Please keep me in your prayers.
Please pray for those affected by the terrible storms here in the US. Pray that they get the help needed. Also, there was flooding in parts of Mexico. They need our prayers as well.
The situation in the Middle East is very tense right now. Pray for peace. Make this a very important part of your prayers this week. Continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and Sudan.
Pray for an end to the m pox outbreak.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Kosovo and Kazakhstan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue with our series. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all.
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