This Is What Love Is
written at Friday, February 12, 2010
I thank God for friends who are open, honest and sometimes blunt, not being afraid to tell me exactly what I'm doing wrong, telling me what I need to work on, pulling me back before I make a wrong decision, this is love exemplified. Yes, it will hurt, who ever said that an honest word will always be one which will boost your spirits? You can be as hard as a rock, your walls can be built so high and so wide, a huge metal dome can surround you, you don't trust anyone, you find it extremely hard to pour your sorrows, your troubles, your burdens, you'll definitely pray about this yes, seeking some sort of breakthrough?
But how about the little things that we fail the notice each day? We are surrounded by it, we interact with it everyday, friends. This is how God breaks you down. What your friends say, what your friends share with you, their prayers, their encouragements, their advice, their rebukes will shred you apart, it will crumble you, it will break you, this is what love is, "We're not doubting that God will do the best for us, we're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be" - C S Lewis. So yes, true friends, to be cherished and treasured, it is through friends we can see God's love for us too, even when it seems painful at times.
So I came across these verses here, some were new to me. All these verses tells us how we should be as friends. Have you been disappointed in the past? Finding it hard to trust people because of all that backstabbing, lying, grudges? Ever heard this phrase which is oh so familiar? "But I trusted you? You betrayed me?" Come on, let's face it, we're living in a world full of sin, plenty of hate and inner twistings to go around, it is to be
expected. Don't expect to be swept off your feet, satisfied or impressed, you won't be impressed, you'll just be disappointed to what this world has to offer. So thus, let's change our perspective, let's change our focus.
Rather, let's start thinking about how we can love God better by being
that friend for others. So these verses guide us how to be
that friend.
Proverbs 27:5-6
Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up.
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
I personally like the verse from Proverbs. Makes you look up, makes you look into the sky and smile to yourself, knowing that there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother =) Wanna learn how He does it?
This Is What Love Is
written at Friday, February 12, 2010
I thank God for friends who are open, honest and sometimes blunt, not being afraid to tell me exactly what I'm doing wrong, telling me what I need to work on, pulling me back before I make a wrong decision, this is love exemplified. Yes, it will hurt, who ever said that an honest word will always be one which will boost your spirits? You can be as hard as a rock, your walls can be built so high and so wide, a huge metal dome can surround you, you don't trust anyone, you find it extremely hard to pour your sorrows, your troubles, your burdens, you'll definitely pray about this yes, seeking some sort of breakthrough?
But how about the little things that we fail the notice each day? We are surrounded by it, we interact with it everyday, friends. This is how God breaks you down. What your friends say, what your friends share with you, their prayers, their encouragements, their advice, their rebukes will shred you apart, it will crumble you, it will break you, this is what love is, "We're not doubting that God will do the best for us, we're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be" - C S Lewis. So yes, true friends, to be cherished and treasured, it is through friends we can see God's love for us too, even when it seems painful at times.
So I came across these verses here, some were new to me. All these verses tells us how we should be as friends. Have you been disappointed in the past? Finding it hard to trust people because of all that backstabbing, lying, grudges? Ever heard this phrase which is oh so familiar? "But I trusted you? You betrayed me?" Come on, let's face it, we're living in a world full of sin, plenty of hate and inner twistings to go around, it is to be
expected. Don't expect to be swept off your feet, satisfied or impressed, you won't be impressed, you'll just be disappointed to what this world has to offer. So thus, let's change our perspective, let's change our focus.
Rather, let's start thinking about how we can love God better by being
that friend for others. So these verses guide us how to be
that friend.
Proverbs 27:5-6
Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up.
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
I personally like the verse from Proverbs. Makes you look up, makes you look into the sky and smile to yourself, knowing that there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother =) Wanna learn how He does it?
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Knowing
What matters supremely, therefore, is not
in the last analysis, the fact that I know God,
but the larger fact which underlies it --
the fact that He knows me.
J. I. Packer
