Love With All Your Heart
by: Linda Driver
5
Love is humble;
Love is not conceited, arrogant and inflated with pride. Love is not self-righteous.
Rhonda always had to be right. She was a brilliant woman, and she made certain everyone knew it. Her opinion was always the correct opinion! Because she was well-read, she was certain she knew all the answers to everything. Rhonda thoroughly enjoyed theological debates. Whenever she had the chance, she would express her view with a determined finality that defied anyone to challenge her. People found her presence in discussion group quite stifling because Rhonda left no room for anyone else to have a differing view. She spoke long, loud, and adamantly until others were thoroughly wearied. Rhonda considered herself the backbone of the church; in her opinion, it was she who kept the church on the right track. No one else could measure up to her intelligence or her spiritual achievements, she thought. She had no tolerance for those who failed to live up to all the standards that she promoted, and she constantly rebuked the sinners in the church. She couldn't imagine how the Lord could do without her.
Then one day Rhonda come face to face with the claims of God's love as found in the Bible:
"Love...is not puffed up. "
1 Corinthians 13:4
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Philippians 2:3
When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 57:15
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
1 Peter 5:5
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Romans 12:16
Love is meek and submissive and respects the opinions of others.
Love is approachable, teachable and reasonable.
Love is receptive to counsel and accepting of rebukes.
Love is responsive to the entreaties and desires of others.
Love has no feelings of superiority or self- righteousness.
Love does not seek to attract attention to itself, but instead is aware of the needs of others.
Love is quick to notice and admire the good qualities in others and does not have a high opinion of its own abilities and appearance.
Love esteems others better than itself and accepts them.
Love will never put others down or criticize them.
Love brings the purest joy that springs from a humble heart and gives all the praise to God.
Wow...I was very intrigued. As I began to read, I immediately thought of someone who resembles Rhonda. I was shaking my head up and down! Then I read what is and is not love and my own heart became convicted. Yikes...how often do I think and/or do the things that aren't love?
ReplyDeleteGREAT post! Thanks so much for causing my heart to think and readjust itself. :)
Xoxo