Ministering: Pastor Shola Awobajo.
Text: 1 Cor. 13:1-7.
“1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth, not itself, is not puffed up. 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
“Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.”
Many in our world have been pursuing love in the wrong place or wrong person. Expression of truth is far more than buying roses. Though love is very essential in the human race, true love is from no other than from God. It is the understanding and experience of The Love of Christ that makes true love proceed from us to the world. Tragically, the absence of love has made some even commit suicide.
Unconditional affection is love without any limitation or condition. It is love regardless of what is going on around you or the person. It means to be committed to seeing a person’s Joy. It’s an unselfish concern for the total of another person.
Our Father’s Love – when we were yet sinners Christ died for us. God is the first to show true love to mankind. The Father’s Love towards us is unconditional. In Creation, He made sure everything was ready before creating man. Despite our flaws, His Mercies are new towards us every morning. He made provisions for our Redemption and Reconciliation to Him. In His Love, He even makes us heirs of His Kingdom. Ephesians 2:4-5 – But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved.
Brotherly Love – John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” As Christians, our true identity is when we love one another in the Love of Christ. 1 John 4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 3:14-15 says We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Conjugal Love – This is Love within a marital relationship. Ecclesiastes 9:9 says “Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labor which thou takest under the sun.” As believers, our greatest asset after Christ is our spouse. Thus, we are enjoined to live joyfully with our spouse. Eph. 5:21-25 – Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.
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