My Lighthouse with lyrics (Rend Collective) – YouTube
Light
Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. No do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Real love has light.
Real Love
We’ve chatted about first loves, love creates, and love requiring sacrifice. But what does REAL love look like? How is a Bride supposed to live this out each day?
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians tells us of agape. This is Christian love or “charity.” This charity has NOTHING to do with donations/alms or sensual love. It is the kind of love that “covers a multitude of sins,” as Peter wrote and he should know! He was always putting his foot in his mouth and being impulsive. Thayer defines agape as brotherly love, affection, good will, benevolence, mercy, attitude of kindness, understanding with generosity.
Love, that Paul speaks of, is “friendship of man for God. It is keeping the “greatest commandment:” Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. This is the “ultimate perfection of human spirit.”
The World Knows What Real Love Is Supposed to Look Like
Bob Marley, the Jamaican musician, singer, songwriter, Grammy Lifetime Award winner, and pioneer of reggae writes:
Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy, or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song, or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there is no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.
Love that looks like Christ
This is incredibly insightful and demonstrates the instinctual knowledge of how love is SUPPOSED to be expressed within a love relationship whether we are “Christian” or not! Is it any wonder the watching world finds “Christians” contemptible when we treat each other with unkindness. There is more grace and mercy found in a country club bar for the broken and battered souls of this world than in our churches. Believers above all people should exhibit the traits listed in I Corinthians 13. This, after all, is the way Christ lived and what love looks like.
Love of Christ
Christ taught us to forgive as He forgave (70×7 times). He forgave us before we asked! Jesus’ love never gives up on us. The Lord taught us to put others before ourselves. Our Savior “suffered long and was kind” to His abusers; He was not arrogant, proud, rude, or easily agitated. Instead He saw the best in everyone, spoke truth in love, believed in His friends, had hope, and never gave up on His friends. This is how not to be a band gone bad (sounding brass or tinkling cymbal). Real love looks like THIS!
This is what Paul meant when he penned the words: He must increase; I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; He who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God doesn not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:30-36
Nicky Romero, Lighthouse
Love in Action
Love puts God and others before ourselves. This is sacrificial love in action day to day, minute by exasperating minute. The rewards (fruits) of this kind of love is peace, patience, and joy! I would be needing some of that today! This is what real love looks like. It is a lighthouse in someone’s storm. The Bride of Christ is a beacon to find HOME! Home is where LOVE (Christ) resides.
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