October 5, 2017

Put On Love

“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”  Col. 3:14

The text emphasizes that above all things, we are to put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  After all the other thoughts:  tender mercies; kindness; humility; longsuffering; and forgiveness, we are to think thoughts of love.  Love is found in the form of a commandment from Jesus in John 13:34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”   This commandment revolutionized the world then, and does to this very day.  Love one another.  And what is love, Christlike love?  It is agape – an unconditional love in which the giver provides what is needed, not necessarily wanted.  Jesus loved people so unconditionally that He would not pass by them in their pain or lost state.  He ministered what people needed:  salvation, healing, and restoration. 

How is this love described in the Bible?  1 Corinthians 13 portrays love in this way:

Ø  Suffers long and is kind;

Ø  Does not envy;

Ø  Does not parade itself;

Ø  Is not puffed up;

Ø  Does not behave rudely;

Ø  Does not seek its own;

Ø  Is not provoked;

Ø  Thinks no evil;

Ø  Rejoices in truth;

Ø  Bears all things;

Ø  Believes all things;

Ø  Hopes all things;

Ø  Endures all things;

Ø  It never fails.