Love

'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

There was a talk on dating at my church here last Friday. The speaker told us some very important things that we have to bear in mind before getting involved in a relationship. Two of the points given are that we should have a mature personality(thinking also) and have an independent state of self-emotion, which means that we do not rely on somebody else to help us to deal with our love affairs. These points do not only imply to our self, but also to the other-half (love partner).

The speaker also came up with some of the love issues happening throughout the world. Teenagers nowadays are getting more and more stubborn in thinking and has the mind-set that everyone has their own opinion towards something. For example, if a teenager is getting involved in some immoral activities and his or her parents know about it, his/her experienced parents would tell him/her the consequences and give him/her some advice. However, a mind-set of self-opinion and reliance causes the teenager to have a thinking that his/her parents have their OWN opinion and he/she has his/hers. For the teenager, her parents' opinion may be wrong and his/her way is the right one.

The Bible(God's Word), however, is always right. God is perfect and His Words are blameless. No one can say that "the Bible has its own way on relating things" and stating that "some facts are wrong" and making a statement instead that his/her own idea is right.

From the Bible, we can see that a relationship should abstrain from sexual immorality and kept Holy, as our body is the Lord's temple('Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ' -Ephesians 5:21) & also ('So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.' -Ephesians 4:17).

The Bible also tells us about the true meaning of love:'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

How does God pour out His undying love onto us? 'This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.' – 1 John 4:9-11.

As children of God, we should not only love God our Saviour but to also love one another. 'Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' – Matthew 22:37-39

There was also a campus event(in conjunction with Valentines Day)--'First Beat: Got Heart?' where I was one of the performers(pianist) with Gordon and Athinia(vocalists). The song performed was "Bless the Broken Road". Praise God that everything went well. There were 18 performances altogether and a few of them are really well performed. Others were also equally good. The funds raised from the sold tickets will be directed to charity. It was a great event.

In the midst of giving chocolates and flowers and expressing one's love to another, let us not forget our love for God and continue to serve and give praises to Him.

Last but not least,
to everyone!!

Till then, take care and God bless.

Jesus loves you! :-)