Love Never Fails!

Carol and I have been reading 1 Cor. 13 giving us a fresh picture of God’s love for us which says, 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 does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.  Love never fails.

The teachings we grew up with depicted the Holy Spirit as being easily hurt and offended and that God was mostly angry where He gave us an offer we could not refuse: “Turn or burn!”  He has to be short tempered, or we might just go out and sin.  We’ve wonder many times if Christians found out hell was officially closed, how many would really choose a relationship with God.  But we read 1 Cor. 13 and discover a loving God that always gives a second chance to the end!

We were also taught to use the name of Jesus and Scripture in an effort to “legally” force God to follow through with what He said He would do for me.  Sermons many times seemed to be “How To” teachings regarding provoking God to answer and bless us.

Have you ever been in a church service where the speaker said, “The Spirit of God is in this room?”  Many times we felt the audience didn’t know whether to be sensitive, careful to not hurt the Spirit or be careful to not make God angry.  Biggest problem was so many went home disappointed.

Have you ever been made to feel that if you don’t pay your tithe you can’t ever expect God to hear you let alone answer your prayers?  God would never take something as beautiful as giving and force it into something mechanical.  Your Father doesn’t need to be provoked into helping you; He finds personal pleasure continually blessing the ones He loves.

Be encouraged today.  God will never turn His face from you!  His eyes are constantly on you in loving affirmation.  To even say that God would turn from you is an anti-Christ mentality.  It denies the work of Christ on the cross.  It will simply never happen.  Don’t ever worry that God is not watching over you.  You are everything to Him!  Nothing you ever do will cause Him to be provoked and turn away from you.

The Holy Spirit is focused on your heart.  He is sensitive because He is sensitive to you.  Don’t ever worry about hurting His feelings.  He is secure, and He loves you, and love is not easily provoked.

When we speak Vangela, Brock or Sasha’s name, it erupts with power the moment it leaves my lips.  Even though they are not here, we can hear their voices the moment their namea are spoken.  We can feel their hair in our hands and smell their breath as if they were standing right before us.  Their names has the power within it because of our relationship.  Before we had them, their names meant nothing.  It was just another name among millions.  But once we knew them personally, it exploded with meaning and power.

The name of Jesus is much the same way.  It was never meant to be used as a bobby pin to pick a lock in the spiritual realm, or as a clove of garlic to ward off vampires.  Its power is contingent upon relationship.  Only in relationship can the essence of Jesus hit the air when the name is spoken from your lips.

The same is true with faith.  As we exercise faith, it becomes aroma of our relationship, not keys to get what we want.  Believe it or not, when your name is spoken by God, it explodes with power in the same way.  God does not use things like your job, your children, and your marriage as tools to manipulate you to greater performance.  The power comes from relationship.  Faith viewed through the lens of love and relationship will come to be more than you ever dreamed, something beautiful and life-changing.  Never again will you worry about God’s being easily provoked because that’s 1 Cor. 13.

We Love You, Paul and Carol