LOVE & FORGIVENESS

The title of the first chapter of one of my favorite secular books (i.e., Deadly Emotions by Don Colbert, M.D.) is “What you feel emotionally is how you feel physically." Let that phrase sink in for a while. As I let it sink in, I no longer wonder why Jesus asks us to “walk in love.” Makes perfect sense --- it’s really for our own good.

So, how do I measure my love walk? Like everything else, I measure it by His Word and He has lots to say about love. For example, let’s look at the very “wedding-popular” scripture in 1 Corinthians. I think the first three verses show me what, in my worldly view, I might think are adequate substitutes for the “love” Jesus wants us to have for one another. Each one listed there will profit me nothing, if not motivated by love.

1Corinthians 13:1-3 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”(NKJV)

We aren’t left to imagine what He means. He’s pretty clear what love is in the next five verses, isn’t he?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.” (NKJV)

So often, either parts or all of these scripture verses are used in wedding ceremonies. Ah yes, these scriptures sound so wonderful. So noble. So very much how we (as a married couple) plan to behave and live our lives. Right ---- that is our plan, our intention --- at least at the time we’re reciting our vows.

Is it just me, or does everyone think they may at times fall short of meeting the description of love in verses 4-8? Just use a thesaurus once to get an expanded description of each key word. For example, this is what I get when I research the word “kind” in a thesaurus:

Main Entry: kind  [kahynd]

Part of Speech: adjective

Definition: generous, good

Synonyms: affectionate, all heart, altruistic, amiable, amicable, beneficent, benevolent, benign, big, bleeding-heart, bounteous, charitable, clement, compassionate, congenial, considerate, cordial, courteous, eleemosynary, friendly, gentle, good-hearted, gracious, heart in right place, humane, humanitarian, indulgent, kindhearted, kindly, lenient, loving, mild, neighborly, obliging, philanthropic, propitious, soft touch, softhearted, sympathetic, tenderhearted, thoughtful, tolerant, understanding

Antonyms: bad, bitter, cruel, inconsiderate, mean, unfriendly, ungenerous, unkind

Get the picture? All I know is that if I’m honest with myself, I know there are times I fall short. But, my goal is not to be perfect --- I will never be perfect on this earth. Only Jesus is perfect.

What my goal can be is to commit to living and behaving as closely as possible to what He says in His Word. That means that when (not if) I fall short, I need to recognize it, ask His forgiveness and make it right (which may mean asking forgiveness from someone else, as well). It may also mean I need to forgive those who hurt me. And, as I mature in Him, I see my occurrences of “falling short” start to decrease, or at least not last as long as they did in the past. I will also see the time it takes for me to forgive someone also decrease.  Those are other measures of my "walk."

I tie love and forgiveness together in this post because I view each of them as very powerful tools for healing.  I believe both of them are choices I make regardless of whether the other party is deserving of love and/or forgiveness. It is making the right choice that keeps me healthy, because the right choice for each is backed up in scripture, which is always the right thing.

I believe that walking a lifetime (or extended period) without love and forgiveness will take a toll on one’s health, as can other deadly emotions. Dr. Colbert’s book is supported by scripture. He speaks of the “cleansing power” of forgiveness, as well as the “love connection” needed to stay healthy. He speaks of many other things as well --- all very helpful in putting everything into perspective.

All the days of my life, I will choose to walk in love and forgiveness and Jesus commands. I am certain my health depends on it!

Mark 12:30-31 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." (NKJV)

John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." (NKJV)

John 15:12-13 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” (NKJV)

Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (NKJV)

Mark 11:25-26 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." (NKJV)

Malachi 4:2"But, for my followers, goodness will shine on you like the rising sun. And it will bring healing power like the sun's rays. You will be free and happy, like calves freed from their stalls.” (ERV)

3John 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (NKJV)

Romans 5:5 “And this hope will never disappoint us. We know this because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts through the Holy Spirit He gave us.” (ERV)



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