…but rejoices in the Truth!

And it’s the “Truth that sets you free!”

We have learned much about what true love is and what it isn’t over the past few days.  We can easily look at this portion of 1 Corinthians 13 and assume we never rejoice in wrong doing.  But we must take a closer look – dig deeper than the surface.

We tend to gloss over things rather than mulling them over and inquiring of God for His help to accurately assess our hearts and what motivates us.

Have you ever:

• been happy when your spouse does something wrong which proves your point of view, thus declaring them “guilty as charged”?
• known you were about to do something or say something you shouldn’t, but you did it anyway because you wanted to, and after all – you’re just being honest!
• been watching a movie or TV show knowing it represented a lifestyle offensive to the faith you live by, but watched and enjoyed it anyway?
• given vent to your anger and frustrations knowing your words would hurt those you supposedly love?

These are prime examples of how we choose either to rejoice in wrong doing (evil) or to rejoice in the Truth (righteousness).

We’ve all heard it said that love is not a feeling, but a decision we make in every moment of every day.  Our vows mean nothing unless we are applying them, not only in the grand decisions of our lives, but in the mundane moments as well.

• when my spouse asks me to do something that will interrupt my plans for the day – I choose to love.
• when my spouse says or does something that verifies my point of view, I humbly pray for God’s help in loving the way Christ has loved me.
• when my emotions are running wild and everything in me wants to be harsh and impatient, I choose to resist this temptation, choosing rather to love others more than myself.
• when I am confronted with entertainment that is an affront to the Truth – I choose to love by using the “off” button.

When I married my husband at the young age of 19, I had no idea what true love was, much less how to practice it.  Now, 33 years later, I’m finally seeing that to love my husband I must first of all love Christ.  It is with More Love To Thee, as the classic hymn states, where I will grow more in love with Tom – the true kind of love that God assures us will bear fruit for a lifetime.

This motivates me to resist rejoicing in the things that feel good for the moment, and rejoice in those things which matter for eternity!  This will only happen as we ask God to help us love as He defines it.