Simple Bible Love

Picking up the bible for the first time, second time or thousandth time can be overwhelming.  It is a beautifully ancient book comprised of 66 books of powerful inspiration.  All the books were written by Jewish people except one, and that author's heritage could be debated.  The original was written in two languages, Greek and Hebrew.  Most of it is over two thousand years old.  There are many theologies to learn, many camps to pitch your spiritual tent in, but the overarching theme is love.

When Yeshuah came on the scene, only the Older Testament existed.  When He was asked what the greatest command was, His response was, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.”  Yeshuah was a rabbi who knew the Torah like the back of His hand.  When all was said and done He said, “It’s all about loving God first, then loving people.”  I think that the Lord knew that we humans would have a hard time comprehending that simplicity.  That’s why I believe Paul was led to write 1 Corinthians chapter 13.  The definition of biblical love is spelled out for us. 

“Love is patient,

Love is kind,

It does not envy,

It does not boast,

It is not proud,

It is not rude,

It is not self-seeking,

It is not easily angered,

It keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil,

But rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,

Always trusts,

Always hopes,

Always perseveres.

Love never fails…”

If we have any doubt what love is, it is spelled out for us.  It is not enough to memorize this verse, we must DO this verse.  When you are responding to someone’s hatred of you, ask yourself, “Am I being kind?”  When your child spills his cheerios on the floor for the first (not the hundredth) time, ask yourself, “Am I easily angered?”  When your waiter brings you water instead of Sprite, chicken instead of steak, blue cheese instead of ranch, in your reaction, ask yourself, “Am I being rude?”  When you have fasted and prayed for someone for a week, but nothing is changing and you want to give up, ask yourself, “Am I being patient?”  Always ask yourself before you speak, before you post on facebook, before you write that email or letter, before you write someone off, before you judge someone for not being holy enough, “Am I being loving?”  After all, that’s what being a Christian is all about.