"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)
Have you ever been in love? Think about that person. Okay, now let's assume that that person just did something that really hurt you - left you, ignored you, cursed you, whatever.
Do you still love them? If not, well, did you really love them in the way the Bible portrays love? The Greek word for love is agape in 1 Corinthians 13. The King James Version translates the word, charity. Think about charity. What is it?
I can tell you what it is not. It is NOT giving to someone expecting something in return. You may hope you get a thank you or a response of some sort, but that is not why you gave. You were charitable toward them because you cared about them. They had a need that you wanted to fill, and you gave without any thought for getting something in return. You just met that need. You made them happy!
If that is how you felt, then congratulations! You were "in the Spirit" - at least for that moment. You have experienced how God feels toward ALL of mankind ALL OF THE TIME.
"For God so loved the world that he gave...." (John 3:16)
Have you ever been in love? Think about that person. Okay, now let's assume that that person just did something that really hurt you - left you, ignored you, cursed you, whatever.
Do you still love them? If not, well, did you really love them in the way the Bible portrays love? The Greek word for love is agape in 1 Corinthians 13. The King James Version translates the word, charity. Think about charity. What is it?
I can tell you what it is not. It is NOT giving to someone expecting something in return. You may hope you get a thank you or a response of some sort, but that is not why you gave. You were charitable toward them because you cared about them. They had a need that you wanted to fill, and you gave without any thought for getting something in return. You just met that need. You made them happy!
If that is how you felt, then congratulations! You were "in the Spirit" - at least for that moment. You have experienced how God feels toward ALL of mankind ALL OF THE TIME.
"For God so loved the world that he gave...." (John 3:16)