Ps just wanted to share that when I was about 17, I was having a real
hard time believing in what the bible said about God's love due to so
many things that had happened.
I spent a few days thinking about love and wondering what it was anyway and
how was I suppose to love a God I could not see, or chat face to face with, or
hear him etc. I could not give him a present or a card, or share a coffe with him.
Anyway I went to church that Sunday and we had a visiting speaker, when he
stood up to preach the first thing he said, was that he had his sermon all ready,
but at the last minute he felt compelled to change it. Then he began to preach on
1 Cor 13.
It was the first time I had heard that chapter before, you see I had set myself the
mammoth task of reading through the bible from start to finish and I was still
in the OT.
When I heard him preaching it was as if he was speaking straight at me and I was
on the edge of my seat for the entire service.
The more I heard the more I realised it wasn't just about our love, it was about
how God shows his love for us.
I went home and wept my heart out I could hardly believe God had changed a
sermon just to speak to me!
Later I bought a vase and some flowers and put them in my bedroom and
told God they were for him. I still do that on occasions.
Will you indulge me while I paraphrase 1 Cor 13 a little:
1 Corinthians 13:4-13 NIV
God is patient with us
God is kind to us
He does not envy our accomplishments but wants us to succeed
He does not boast, nor is proud but always wants us to be the best we can be
God does not seek to bring dishonour to us
He is not self-seeking but wants what is best for us
God is not easily angered by us
God keeps no record of wrongs for those washed in the blood of the lamb
God does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth, the truth that sets us free
God always protects us far more than we can ever imagine
God always trusts us to come through and trusts us with his gospel message
God always hopes always perseveres with us even when we mess up
God's love for us never fails.