Upendo labda ndilo neno linalotumiwa vibaya zaidi ulimwenguni kote. Pia ni ile isiyoeleweka kidogo. Upendo ni wa muundo tata sana hivi kwamba hakujawa na ufafanuzi kamili kwa ajili yake isipokuwa ule wa Kimaandiko katika 1 Yoh. 4:8 ambayo inatuambia, “Mungu ni upendo”.

Kamusi hufanya jaribio lake la kufafanua upendo. Inasema, "upendo unamaanisha kupendezwa sana au kujitolea sana, hisia ya wema, shauku ya ngono, shauku yenye nguvu kwa mtu wa jinsia tofauti." Webster bila shaka alikuwa mtu mwenye kipaji na alifanya kazi ya ajabu, lakini anapungukiwa sana na kufafanua upendo wa kimaandiko, wa Kiungu (Agape) ni nini.

Upendo ni zawadi ya Mungu kwa wale wanaotaka kufuata nyayo za Bwana Yesu, waliozaliwa mara ya pili kutoka juu na kuongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu ili kuruhusu maisha yao yafanane na Yesu. Yetu 

Baba wa Mbinguni anaanza upendo ndani yetu ambao unaweza kufanya majibu kwa upendo Wake usio na kikomo. Upendo hukua kama matokeo ya Roho Mtakatifu kukaa ndani yetu na kama tokeo la kushika amri kuu mbili tulizopewa katika Mt.22:37-39, si kwa herufi bali katika roho.

Katika Mat. 22 : 37-39 Yesu akasema, Mpende Bwana Mungu wako kwa moyo wako wote, na kwa roho yako yote, na kwa akili zako zote . " Je, Yesu alifanya makosa fulani hapa? Je, kweli alimaanisha kwamba tunapaswa kujipenda wenyewe kabla ya kumpenda jirani yetu? Ingekuwa zaidi kupatana na Maandiko kusema kwamba Yesu alimaanisha mtu apende wengine kama anavyojijali mwenyewe.

Kupenda jirani zetu kama tunavyojipenda mara nyingi haieleweki kumaanisha lazima tuwe na upendo mkubwa wa kibinafsi. Lakini Neno la Mungu linaonyesha wazi kwamba sikuzote upendo huo unalinganishwa na kiburi na ubinafsi. Hii ni 

hakika si kile ambacho Yesu alimaanisha alipotuambia tunapaswa kuwapenda wengine kama tunavyojipenda wenyewe. Yesu alikuwa anatupa kiwango ambacho angetufanya tuwapende wengine. Kiwango hicho ni sawa na Kanuni ya Dhahabu: watendee wengine kama unavyotaka wakufanyie. Upendo wa kujipenda ambao Yesu anazungumzia si ule upendo usio na usawa unaojishughulisha na nafsi. Badala yake, ni kujipenda na kutaka kutendewa kwa fadhili na heshima. Inataka kushughulikiwa kwa uaminifu na kwa maslahi ya kweli kutoka kwa wengine katika ustawi wake. Inataka haki katika shughuli zake za kibiashara na kusikilizwa inapokuwa na malalamiko. Vivyo hivyo pia, ni lazima tuwape wengine upendo huu huu.

Upendo ni mwingiliano wenye nguvu ambao huyapa maisha maana yake ya kweli, muhimu na kusudi. Upendo sio kitu cha kupita kiasi. Upendo unahusisha kuwafanyia wengine kama vile ungetaka wakufanyie. Kadiri upendo unavyokuwa hai, ndivyo unavyozidi kukua na kupanuka ndani yetu. 

Ubeti huu mfupi wa shairi unadhihirisha jambo hili vizuri:

Naam, moyo hutajirika katika kutoa;

Mali yake yote ni nafaka hai;

Mbegu ambazo koga kwenye ghala

Kutawanyika, kujaza na dhahabu uwanda.

Je, moyo wako ni nguvu hai?

Kujifunga mwenyewe, nguvu zake huzama chini;

Inaweza tu kuishi kwa upendo,

Na kwa kutumikia, upendo utakua.

Upendo hauna thamani ikiwa haujatolewa kwa wengine. Hatuwezi kutoa kile ambacho hatujapokea, kujifunza, na uzoefu, na kuingizwa katika akili na mioyo yetu wenyewe. Ni neema ya ajabu iliyoje -- ingawa tunamimina upendo wetu juu ya maelfu ya wengine, uwezo wa kupenda haupungui kamwe. Ni kama maarifa kwa kiasi fulani. Mtu mwenye hekima anaweza kuwafundisha wengine yote anayojua kwa kuwashirikisha, na anapomaliza, ujuzi wake haujapungua, bali katika kuutoa unakuwa wa kina katika akili yake mwenyewe. Upendo una kipengele kingine maalum sana kwake. Kadiri upendo unavyotolewa na kushirikiwa, ndivyo furaha na utimilifu unavyopatikana kwa mtoaji. Upendo ukihifadhiwa kwa ubinafsi, matokeo yatakuwa maisha yasiyo na furaha, yasiyotimizwa ya utupu na kutoridhika. Mtume Paulo, akimnukuu Yesu, anasisitiza jambo hili katika Matendo 20:34-35 : “Ninyi wenyewe mnajua ya kuwa mikono yangu hii imetoa mahitaji yangu mwenyewe na katika yote niliyoyafanya niliwaonyesha ya kuwa kwa kazi hii imetupasa kufanya kazi kwa bidii. wasaidieni walio dhaifu, mkikumbuka maneno ya Bwana Yesu mwenyewe: Ni heri kutoa kuliko kupokea.

Kutoa na kutumikia ni upendo katika vitendo na daima hutoa thawabu yake mwenyewe. Upendo wa Kimungu si tu hisia yenye fadhili. Hisia zetu huja na kwenda kwa viwango tofauti vya ukali. Baadhi ni mafupi na ya muda mfupi, wakati wengine ni ya kina na ya kudumu. Upendo unaotoka moyoni daima huambatana na hisia kali. Ilikuwa ni upendo na hisia kali za huruma ambazo zilimsukuma Bwana wetu kuponya na kulisha umati. Ilikuwa ni upendo wake na hisia kali za huzuni ambazo zilimfanya Yesu kulia juu ya Yerusalemu na kwenye kaburi la Lazaro, na kwamba hatimaye alimchukua Bwana wetu kupitia majaribu mengi magumu yaliyompeleka kwenye Msalaba wa Kalvari.

Hebu sasa tutembee katika 1 Wakorintho 13 na tushuhudie udhihirisho mzuri wa tunda la upendo wa kimungu unaoonyeshwa kwa uzuri sana, unaofafanuliwa hapa na Mtume Paulo. Kutoka kwa tafsiri ya Phillips: "Upendo ni mvumilivu na wenye fadhili... hauna wivu wala husuda, haujivuni wala kujivuna. Hauna kiburi, kiburi au ufidhuli kamwe. Upendo haudai njia yake wenyewe. Haukasiriki wala haugusi. Hauna kinyongo. , na haitawahi kuona wakati wengine wanafanya vibaya. Haifurahishi kamwe juu ya ukosefu wa haki, lakini hufurahi wakati wowote ukweli unaposhinda, utakuwa mwaminifu kwake kwa gharama yoyote kwake, na siku zote simama imara katika kumtetea vipawa vyote maalum na nguvu kutoka kwa Mungu siku moja zitaisha, lakini upendo unaendelea milele. Ikishuka hadi mstari wa 13, inasema, “Yamebaki mambo matatu: Imani, Tumaini na Upendo, na lililo kuu kati ya hayo ni Upendo! 

Haya si maelezo ya upendo wa kibinadamu, bali ya upendo wa kimungu. Inaweza tu kuwa yetu ikiwa Roho Mtakatifu anakaa ndani yetu. Acheni tuchunguze kila moja ya maonyesho haya kando ili tuweze kufahamu vyema zaidi matunda ya Upendo. Tutakachoona ni jinsi upendo wa kweli unavyojiendesha katika hali mbalimbali. 

Upendo ni Subira

Inastahiki kutambua kwamba subira ndiyo sifa ya kwanza ambayo Mtume aliona inafaa kuitaja. Kuna sababu nzuri ya hii. Tunasoma katika Luka 8:15, "Zaeni matunda kwa uvumilivu." Katika Yak. 1:4 tunaambiwa "saburi iwe na kazi yake kamilifu, mpate kuwa wazima bila kupungukiwa na neno." Maandiko haya na mengine yanaweka wazi kwamba subira ni muhimu kwa kuzaa matunda. Hebu fikiria kidogo subira kubwa na ustahimilivu wa Baba yetu wa Mbinguni kuhusiana na uumbaji Wake. Ndiyo, tukiitafakari kikweli, tutatambua jinsi subira ilivyo muhimu katika kusitawisha upendo ndani yetu. Ukosefu wa subira hudhihirisha kujijali kupita kiasi.

Kwa upande mwingine, subira ni udhihirisho wa kujali wengine. Tunapokosa subira katika kazi fulani tunayofanya, ni kwa sababu haiendi vile TUNAVYOfikiria. Kutokuwa na subira na ubinafsi hutembea kwa mkono -- ni marafiki wakubwa. Huenda tukakosa subira kwa wengine tunapofikiri wanatenda kwa njia ambayo tunafikiri kwamba hawapaswi, au tunapokatizwa kwa sababu tunafikiri kile tunachofanya ni muhimu zaidi. Hii mara nyingi hufanywa hata kabla hatujajua sababu ya kukatiza. Hakuna kuzunguka, kukosa subira ni kujitafutia na ni kazi za ubinafsi. Uvumilivu, kama matunda yote ya Roho, hutoka kwa Mungu. Haya si maonyesho ya juhudi za kibinadamu. Hii inafanya uwezekano wa kufanya lisilowezekana kama hadithi ifuatayo inavyoonyesha vizuri: 

“Kulikuwa na kijana Mkristo ambaye alikuwa na wakati mgumu sana kwa kudumisha subira yake. Hakuwa na subira kwa kila kitu na kila mtu hata yeye aliona ni wazi watu wanamkwepa. Hili lilikaa sana moyoni mwake. Hatimaye, aliamua kwenda kumwona mwanamume Mkristo mzee ambaye alimwona kuwa mwenye hekima sana, na ambaye alimheshimu sana, na ambaye sikuzote alikuwa kielelezo cha mtu aliyetembea pamoja na Kristo. Alimwambia yule mzee shida yake inayomsumbua. Baada ya kijana huyo kusema tatizo lake, yule mkubwa alipendekeza kwamba wote wawili wapige magoti na kusali kuhusu jambo hilo. Mkristo huyo mzee alianza kusali, ‘Bwana mwenye neema, tafadhali mpe kijana huyu dhiki asubuhi, dhiki katikati ya mchana, na...’ Wakati huo kijana akakatiza kwa kumshika mkono mwingine na kumwambia kwa hamaki. , 'Sidhani kama umeelewa nilichosema. Tatizo langu ni saburi, si dhiki.' Mkristo mzee mwenye hekima kisha akaendelea kueleza kwamba ni kwa shida na dhiki tu ndipo mtu huja kujifunza subira (Warumi 5:3) na kwa kumruhusu Mungu afanye kazi ndani yako.” 

Tofauti na kutokuwa na subira, subira hujifunza kufikia na kuhangaikia hisia na hali njema ya wengine. Subira ni rahisi kubadilika, kamwe haina haraka; ni utulivu na huvaa pambo la roho ya upole na utulivu. Ndiyo, uvumilivu wenye upendo hutafuta kuelewa na kwa hiyo unasubiri kimya kimya. Kuna msemo unaostahili kukumbukwa: “Heri wenye kunyumbulika... kwa maana hawatapinduka.” Uvumilivu ni ... Upendo wa kudumu!

Upendo ni Mwema

Fadhili ni usemi au tendo la upendo kwa mtu. Ni mchanganyiko wa ukarimu, hamu ya kufanya mema, kupanua huruma, ukarimu, urafiki, na ukarimu. Fadhili inaweza kusemwa kuwa ni lugha inayoeleweka kote ulimwenguni na ndiyo mafuta ambayo mara nyingi hupunguza misuguano ya maisha. Fadhili za Kikristo kwa kweli ni upendo katika matendo. Fadhili inahusika na “kuwatendea mema watu wote kadiri tupatavyo nafasi, na hasa jamaa ya waaminio” (Gal. 6:10). Ni kuiga mfano tulioachiwa na Bwana wetu Yesu ambaye Maandiko yanatuambia "alizunguka huko na huko akitenda mema." Fadhili hutembea kwa mkono wazi badala ya ngumi iliyofungwa. Inatafuta fursa za kuwa na manufaa na pia kusaidia. Fadhili ni wonyesho wa uelewaji wenye upendo, kwa kuwa inatambua kwamba kila mtu anapigana vita ngumu. 

Matatizo hayachangamshi kamwe maziwa ya fadhili za kweli za Kikristo. Fadhili itatafuta kuelewa na kutoa udhuru kwa tendo lolote ambalo huenda likaudhi, na kulikengeusha kwa mawazo mazuri. Ndiyo, ni kweli: "Nitapita katika ulimwengu huu mara moja tu. Kwa hiyo, ikiwa kuna wema wowote ninaoweza kuonyesha, au wema wowote ninaoweza kufanya, basi nifanye sasa. kwa maana sitapita njia hii tena.” 

Upendo hauna wivu

Kuonea wivu ni kutoridhika na kutoridhika kwa sababu ya faida, cheo, au mali ya mtu mwingine. Ni tamaa ya kuwa na mali ya mwingine. Mwenye wivu hafurahishwi na hali yake. Wivu ni mawazo yasiyo na usawa ambayo husema, "ikiwa siwezi kuwa na vitu hivyo, basi hakuna mtu mwingine anayepaswa pia." Wivu ni hila sana na mara nyingi husikika kwa maneno rahisi, "Hivyo ndivyo nusu nyingine inavyoishi." 

Kwa upande mwingine, upendo hauna wivu au uchungu kwa sababu mtu mwingine ana na anafurahia kitu ambacho hatuna. Upendo haukati tamaa au kutoridhika na mafanikio ya wengine. Tutambue kuwa sehemu ya uzi unaotengeneza wivu ni ubinafsi. Badala ya kuwa na wivu, upendo wa kweli ungefurahia bahati nzuri ya wengine. Daima ingetamani mema kwa wengine. Upendo wa kimungu ungetamani hata kuwasaidia wengine kujiboresha wenyewe na maisha yao kwa gharama ya kibinafsi.

Mbegu za wivu hukua polepole kuelekea kuzaa kwake. Matunda ya wivu sio matamu kamwe. Maandiko yanaonekana kutokuwa na mwisho katika masomo yao ili kutusaidia kupigana na adui huyu kwa upendo kama wa Mungu. Katika Mwa. 4:4-8, wivu wa Kaini kwa Abeli ​​ulimpelekea kumuua ndugu yake. Katika Mwa. 37:4-20, ndugu zake Yusufu walihusudu uhusiano wake na baba yake hata wakapanga njama ya kumwua, lakini Reubeni walizuiwa na badala yake wakamuuza utumwani. Katika Hes. 12:1-10, Miriamu na Haruni walikuwa na wivu kwamba Musa pekee ndiye aliyetambuliwa kuwa msemaji wa Mungu na kwa sababu hiyo aliadhibiwa kwa muda kwa ukoma. Katika Mat. 27:1-18, tunasoma jinsi kuhani mkuu na wazee wa Wayahudi walivyopanga njama ya kifo cha Yesu kwa sababu waliona wivu ushawishi na sifa Yake miongoni mwa watu, na waliogopa kwamba angewaondoa katika viti vyao vya heshima. Iwapo yeyote kati yetu atajikuta hajaridhika na nafasi yake maishani, hasa kanisani, akifikiri kwamba tunaweza kutoa mahubiri bora zaidi, au kuongoza somo bora zaidi la Biblia kuliko yule anayefanya hivyo, hebu tuangalie kwa makini kwa nini tunahisi hivyo. njia. Ikiwa tumekabidhi maisha yetu kabisa kwa Bwana, tukiwa tumeachwa kwa mapenzi yake peke yake, hapapaswi kuwa na nafasi ya wivu kwa sababu kupitia kunyenyekea na kukubali mapenzi ya Mungu kwetu huja pumziko, amani, na kutosheka kwa moyo. Katika Wafilipi 4:11 Mtume Paulo anasema, “Kwa maana nimejifunza kuwa radhi na hali yo yote niliyo nayo. Kinyume na vile ulimwengu unafikiri, kuridhika hakutokani na upatikanaji mkubwa, lakini badala yake kutoka kwa matakwa machache, na kuacha kila kitu mikononi mwa Baba yetu wa Mbinguni Mwenye hekima Yote, Mpendo Wote. 

Upendo kamwe haujivuni wala kujivunia

Mtu fulani aliwahi kusema, "Siku zote uko kwenye ufunguo usio sahihi, unapoimba sifa zako mwenyewe!" Tafsiri ya Moffatt inaiweka hivi: "Upendo haufanyi gwaride, haujitoi hewani." Upendo hautafuti kujionyesha wenyewe ili uweze kustahiwa na kufikiriwa vyema. Inaridhika na kuonyesha upendo, ikijua kwamba kwa upendo Mungu hupendezwa sana. Kiburi ni ukadiriaji usio na usawa wa mtu mwenyewe. Athari yake inaweza kulinganishwa na ncha moja ya sumaku ambayo daima hufukuza badala ya kuvutia. Mtume katika Rum. 12:3 inatuambia, “Kwa maana kwa neema niliyopewa nawaambia kila mmoja wenu, Usijifikirie nafsi yako zaidi kuliko ipasavyo; aliyokupa." Pia katika 1 Kor. 4:7 tunasoma, "Kwa maana ni nani anayekutofautisha na mwingine yeyote? Una nini ambacho hukupokea? Na ikiwa umepokea, kwa nini wajisifu kana kwamba hukupokea?" 

Hakuna mfano bora zaidi wa kupatikana kwetu kuliko katika maisha ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo. Tungependa kutofautisha unyenyekevu wake na kiburi cha kuua ambacho kilikuwa anguko la Shetani na kingeweza kuwa chetu. Kwanza, tutataja kipimo cha ulimwengu cha ukuu ni nini na kisha tutofautishe hicho na maisha ya Yesu. Tutaorodhesha mtazamo wa ulimwengu upande wa kushoto na kulinganisha maisha ya Yesu upande wa kulia.

Kiburi cha kuzaliwa na cheo --"Je, huyu si mwana wa seremala?" Kiburi cha mali-- "Mwana wa Adamu hana mahali pa kulaza kichwa chake." Kiburi cha heshima--"Je, jambo lolote jema linaweza kutoka Nazareti?" Kiburi cha sura ya kibinafsi--"Hana umbo, wala uzuri hata wapate kumtamani." Kiburi cha sifa--"Rafiki ya watoza ushuru na wenye dhambi" Kiburi cha elimu--"Mtu huyu ajuaje barua, akiwa hajawahi kuelimishwa?" Kiburi cha ubora--"Mimi ni miongoni mwenu kama mhudumu." Kiburi cha mafanikio--"Alidharauliwa na kukataliwa na watu." Kiburi cha uwezo-- "Mimi mwenyewe siwezi kufanya chochote." Kiburi cha kujitakia—“Sitafuti mapenzi yangu mimi, bali mapenzi yake aliyenituma.” Kiburi cha akili--“Kama vile Baba alivyonifundisha, haya ndiyo mambo nisemayo.” Kiburi cha urithi--Alisulubishwa msalabani na mwili wake ulilazwa kwenye kaburi la kuazimwa.

Bila shaka Yesu alituachia kielelezo kikamilifu cha upole wa roho na unyenyekevu wa akili na moyo. 

Je, tunafanana zaidi upande gani wa karatasi? 

Upendo sio Kiburi au Kifidhuli

Upendo, kinyume chake, daima ni adabu. Kiburi na ufidhuli ni ishara za ukosefu wa heshima unaotokana na kiburi cha ubinafsi. Mtu si jeuri au mkorofi kwa mtu anayemtazama au kumwona bora kuliko yeye. Kawaida inaelekezwa kwa wengine ambao wanafikiriwa kuwa duni kwa njia fulani, iwe elimu, nafasi, talanta, n.k. Kutenda kwa kiburi au kukosa adabu ni kutojali hisia za wengine. Inajitokeza bila kujali athari itakuwa nini. Wengi hufanya hivyo ili kuonyesha jinsi wanavyojiona kuwa bora. Hili linaweza kufanyika kanisani, ikiwa mtu anamdharau mtu asiye na ujuzi mdogo wa Maandiko kuliko wao, na kuitikia kwa kiburi na hali ya juu wakati wa kujifunza au majadiliano. Matokeo ya kitendo kama hicho kwa kawaida huwa hayafai kwa wale wanaoitazama. 

Afadhali tuwe wapole, wenye adabu na wenye kufikiria kwa wengine. Ndiyo, upendo haujiendeshi bila adabu. Upendo haudai njia yake mwenyewe, sio ubinafsi. Upendo wa kweli hautawafaidi wengine kwa kutafuta njia zao wenyewe. Kwa kweli, upendo utajiweka katika hali mbaya ikiwa unaweza kuwasaidia wengine. Upendo ni waangalifu sana kwamba haukanyagi vidole vya wengine. Mapenzi hayana tabia ya ukaidi. 

Sikiliza baadhi ya visawe vya neno ukaidi: asiyepinda, mgumu, mgumu, mkaidi, asiyebadilika, asiyebadilika, mkaidi, mkaidi, mwenye kichwa, mwenye kichwa cha nguruwe. Maisha yetu yawe ya kila wakati kwamba hakuna hata moja ya maneno haya yanaweza kushikamana na matendo yetu. Ni rahisi sana kwetu kunaswa na roho ya ushindani ambayo iko kila mahali kutuhusu. Ushindani ni kanuni ya msingi ya uchumi wa dunia, na ushawishi wake huchuja chini kugusa maisha katika kila ngazi. Kujaribu kushinda, au kuwa bora kuliko wengine, inaonekana hata katika uwanja wa watoto wadogo wanaocheza pamoja. Karibu ushindani wote hutumikia mwisho wa ubinafsi. 

Kinyume na hili, upendo ni wa kutamani. Inatafuta fursa za kuwa msaada hata wakati inaweza kuwa "nje ya msimu" kwa kibinafsi. Upendo wa kweli hauogopi kujihusisha! Inatafuta kutimiza amri ya kumpenda jirani yako kama nafsi yako. Upendo wa kweli hufurahi kusikiliza wengine na hujaribu kuelewa maoni ya mwingine. Ni haraka kukiri wazo bora kutoka kwa mtu mwingine, na hata huenda zaidi kwa kumpongeza mtu kwa hilo. Mtu mwenye ubinafsi hatapata furaha ya kweli. Hakuna furaha katika kuwa na kupata au kupata, kwa maana siku zote zaidi hutakikana. Furaha huja kwa njia ya kutoa. Wengi wa ulimwengu kwa hakika wanasafiri kwenye njia mbaya katika kutafuta wema huu. Yesu alisema alikuja kuhudumu na kutumikia. Siri hupatikana ndani 

Maneno na mifano Yake, na hii ndiyo iliyoyapa maisha Yake maana na ilikuwa chanzo cha kuridhika Kwake alipokuwa akishughulika na wanafunzi Wake. 

Upendo haukasiriki au hauchoshi, hauchokozwi

Tunapokasirika na kuguswa, tumejiruhusu kujiweka tena kwenye nafasi ya kwanza. Hasira yetu nzuri itajaribiwa mara kwa mara kwenye uwanja wa vita wa kila siku wa maisha. Tunapochagua kuweka upendo katika vitendo wakati wa hali na hali ngumu, itapunguza asidi yote ya maisha na kutoa tamu ambayo ingekuwa tukio chungu. 

Iwapo tunatukanwa au kujaribiwa kwa namna fulani, tukumbuke kwamba upendo haulipishi kwa wema, kwa maana kufanya hivyo kutakuwa kurudisha uovu kwa uovu. Upendo hupinga kutukanwa na badala yake utatafuta kuelewa ni kwa nini mtu anachochewa kutenda kwa namna hiyo kwetu. Hasira mbaya ni kama radi inayosababisha uharibifu mkubwa inapogusana na kitu. 

Imesemwa hivi: “Ukosefu wa subira, ukosefu wa fadhili, ukosefu wa ukarimu, ukosefu wa adabu, ukosefu wa kutokuwa na ubinafsi yote hayo yanafananishwa mara moja na ghadhabu mbaya.” Utashi hauwezi kubadilisha tabia hii kwa wanadamu, na wakati hautabadilisha. Ni Kristo pekee awezaye kufanya hili maishani mwetu, na hili litatendeka tunapomruhusu Mungu afanye ndani yetu kazi yake ya ajabu ya kubadilisha mawazo yetu kuwa yale ambayo pia yalikuwa ndani ya Mwanawe, Kristo Yesu. Mtume Paulo alituonya katika Wafilipi 2:5, “Iweni na nia iyo hiyo ndani yenu ambayo ilikuwamo pia ndani ya Kristo Yesu”. 

Upendo haufikirii Ubaya 

Upendo haushikilii kinyongo, huwa hautambui wakati wengine wanafanya vibaya. Sio kuhofia au kuwashuku wengine au nia zao. Upendo hauna hila. Kamwe haitafuti kulipiza kisasi. Haina wivu kamwe, lakini kwa kawaida huwa na mwelekeo wa kuwaamini wengine. Iko tayari kuwekwa katika hali ya hatari na daima ni haraka kutafuta kuona bora zaidi kwa wengine. Upendo hautafuti milango ya chumbani kufungua ili kutafuta mifupa ya zamani ya kufanya vibaya. Haitaacha kamwe innuendoes au makisio ambayo yangeweka kivuli kwa mwingine. Upendo wa kweli utatafuta kulinda na kuficha yale ambayo huenda yakawaumiza wengine ikiwa yangejulikana. Hailemewi na tabia ya kuhisi kudharauliwa na wengine, lakini daima itatafuta kisingizio cha tabia zao. Upendo sio kipofu kwa makosa ya wengine, lakini badala yake huchagua kuzingatia mema yaliyopo. Kwa kufanya hivi tunakuwa watenda kazi pamoja na Mungu, yule Mfinyanzi Mkuu ili tunda hili la Roho likue. Na tuwe na hakika kwamba “Tunakaa ndani ya Mzabibu!” 

Upendo Haufurahii Kamwe Juu ya Udhalimu 

Upendo hufurahi Ukweli unaposhinda. Uovu kwa asili yake unapingana na haki, uadilifu, na upendo. Tunapotazama karibu nasi, mara nyingi tunaona ukosefu wa uaminifu ukitumiwa kujinufaisha. Hata kama uovu ungekuwa na faida gani, upendo hautashiriki kamwe. Upendo una mshikamano wa kweli na uadilifu hivi kwamba ungependa kupata hasara, dhiki, na hata mnyanyaso, ikihitajika, katika utetezi wake. 

Kuwa mwaminifu kwa viwango vya haki na uadilifu kutagharimu wafuasi wake wote katika maisha haya ya sasa. Upendo hushangilia wakati haki na kweli hutuzunguka na kumsifu Mungu kwa hilo. 

Upendo Hubeba (Au Hufunika) Vitu Vyote, Huamini Yote, 

Huvumilia Mambo Yote - Upendo Haushindwi Kamwe.

Upendo wa kweli utatafuta kufunika. funika, kupuuza, kutoa udhuru, au kuficha makosa ya wengine. Mtume Petro katika 1 Pet. 4:8 inasema kwamba "Upendo husitiri wingi wa dhambi." Kinachopendeza sana kuhusu upendo wa Kimungu ni kwamba utajitahidi kufanya haya yote kwa heshima kwa wengine, hata kama ni mhasiriwa wa kosa. Upendo siku zote utajaribu kuangalia kwa undani zaidi kile kilichosababisha kitendo kibaya, ili uweze kushughulikia kwa akili zaidi mkosaji. Upendo daima huwa na mwelekeo wa kuamini wengine vyema, hata wakati kuonekana kunaweza kuonyesha vinginevyo. Itafanya hivi, hata wakati kila mtu anaweza kuwa amewaondoa kwenye orodha yao. Upendo wa kweli daima utapinga mwelekeo wa kukata tamaa kwa mtu yeyote, na hivyo kwa kufanya hivyo Upendo haushindwi kamwe.

Huu ndio aina ya upendo ambao Baba yetu wa Mbinguni na Bwana wetu Yesu wanatamani sisi sote tuwe nao ndani yetu. Ni aina hii ya upendo ambao wote wawili wana kwetu. Na jambo la kustaajabisha ni kwamba hili linawezekana tukimruhusu Bwana kwa Roho wake Mtakatifu kufanya kazi ndani yetu mapenzi yake mema. Asifiwe Mungu na Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo kwa upendo wao mkuu ambao wangetamani kufanya hivi kwa ajili yetu.

Hebu sasa tuchunguze kwa nini Paulo alisema katika mstari wa 13, “Yamebaki mambo matatu: Imani, Tumaini na Upendo, na lililo kuu kati ya hayo ni Upendo! Imani, kulingana na Waebrania 11:1, inafafanuliwa hivi: “Sasa imani ni kuwa na hakika ya mambo tunayotumainia na kuwa na hakika ya yale tusiyoyaona.” Tumaini limeelezwa katika Waebrania 6:19-20 kama kitu tulicho nacho kama viumbe vipya vilivyozaliwa mara ya pili. “Tuna tumaini hili kama nanga ya roho, thabiti na salama. Inaingia ndani ya chumba cha ndani nyuma ya pazia, ambapo Yesu, aliyetangulia mbele yetu, ameingia kwa ajili yetu.” Imani na tumaini vimeunganishwa kwa karibu. Imani ni kutumainia ahadi za Mungu na inatoka kwa ujasiri kamili katika Ahadi na ahadi. Imani huja kwa kusikia Neno la Mungu. Matumaini yanatuwekea ahadi. Inakusudiwa kuwa motisha, kitu ambacho kitakuwa chetu katika siku zijazo. Kusikia huzaa imani na imani huzaa tumaini. Kila moja ni muhimu kwa mwingine.

Walakini, moja ni muhimu zaidi kuliko hizi mbili. Imani na tumaini vitafika mwisho tutakapochukuliwa kuwa pamoja na Bwana. Watakuwa wamefanya kazi yao na hivyo kusudi lao limeisha. Lakini hii sivyo kwa Upendo. Upendo unaendelea kama sehemu yetu katika miili yetu ya kiroho iliyobadilika. Tutakuwa kama Bwana wetu Yesu na Baba wa Mbinguni katika kiini hasa cha Upendo, na hivyo kuwa na uwezo mzuri wa kumsaidia Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo katika kubariki familia zote za dunia, kama Bibi-arusi Wake. Upendo mwingi na subira zitahitajika ili kuinua ainabinadamu kufikia kiwango cha uadilifu wa kweli. Kanisa linaloshinda litakuwa limejaribiwa kwa kina katika maonyesho haya ya matunda ya...Upendo!

Hadithi ifuatayo inaleta hoja hapo juu. Inaitwa "No Farewell To Love." “Mkristo mmoja mzee alipokuwa akifa, rafiki yake alipiga simu ili kuaga. 'Nimekuwa tu na wageni watatu,' alisema mtu anayekufa, 'na kwa wawili kati yao nikaachana; lakini wa tatu nitakaa nami milele. 'Ni akina nani hao?' aliuliza mpigaji. Wa kwanza alikuwa Imani na nikasema, “Kwaheri, Imani! Ninamshukuru Mungu kwa ajili ya ushirika wako tangu nilipomtumaini Yesu mara ya kwanza; lakini sasa naenda mahali ambapo hakuna imani tena.” Kisha akaja Tumaini. “Kwaheri, Tumaini,” nikasema, “Umenisaidia katika saa nyingi za vita na dhiki, lakini sasa sitakuhitaji tena.” 

Mwisho wa yote akaja Upendo. “Upendo,” nikasema, “umekuwa rafiki yangu kweli; umeniunganisha na Mungu na wanadamu wenzangu; umeufariji na kuufurahisha moyo wangu katika hija yake. Lakini siwezi kukuacha nyuma; lazima uje pamoja nami kwa ajili yako, Upendo, utakuwa mwandamani na rafiki yangu milele.”'” Na ndivyo ilivyo kwetu -- upendo utaendelea hadi umilele pamoja nasi katika miili yetu ya kiroho iliyofufuliwa.

Mambo ya Kukumbuka

Upendo unapaswa kuwa kanuni ya kudumu katika mahusiano yetu sisi kwa sisi.

Upendo ni nini? Biblia inatuambia kwamba Mungu ni UPENDO, na hivyo ili kujua upendo ni lazima tumjue Mungu na Mwanawe kwa njia ya kibinafsi na ya ndani.

Upendo ni uamuzi!

Ni ahadi kwa Mungu na wengine ambayo imefikiriwa vyema.

Inatia ndani azimio lenye nguvu kwamba hakuna chochote kitakachokuzuia usipende upendo wako kwa Mungu na wengine.

Upendo wako kwa wengine haupaswi kutegemea matarajio ya utendaji wao.

Upendo wa kweli hauweki masharti na hauna mipaka.

Aina hii ya upendo si ule unaopatikana kwa kawaida leo, lakini ni ule unaoweza kupatikana kwa neema ya Mungu na kwa msaada Wake.

Upendo wa kweli ni wa kudumu na wa kutegemewa, ukitafuta maisha bora kwa wengine.

Upendo ni uamuzi na wewe pekee unaweza kuufanya, na kwa msaada wa Mungu unaweza kuushika.

Hebu iwe upendo wake unaotiririka kupitia kwako kwa wengine.

Love is probably the most misused word in the entire world. It is also the one that is least understood. Love is of such a complex make-up that there has been no perfect definition for it except the Scriptural one in 1 Jn. 4:8 which tells us, "God is love".

The dictionary makes its own attempt at defining love. It says, "love implies intense fondness or deep devotion, the feeling of benevolence, sexual passion, a strong passionate affection for a person of the opposite sex." Webster was undoubtedly a brilliant man and did a wonderful work, but he comes far short of defining what scriptural, Godly (Agape) love is.

Love is a gift of God to those seeking to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, who are born-again from above and led by the Holy Spirit of God to allow their lives to be conformed to Jesus. Our 

Heavenly Father begins a love in us that can make response back to His infinite love. Love grows as a result of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and as the result of keeping the two greatest commandments given to us in Mt. 22:37-39, not in letter but in spirit.

In Matt. 22:37-39 Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." Did Jesus make some mistake here? Did he really mean that we should lavish love on ourselves before we could love our neighbor? It would be more in harmony with Scripture to say that Jesus meant one is to love others as he/she cares for himself/herself.

Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves is often misunderstood to mean we must have great self-love. But God’s Word makes it clear that such love is always equated with pride and selfishness. This is 

surely not what Jesus meant when he told us we should love others as we love ourselves. Jesus was giving us a standard by which He would have us love others. That standard is the same as the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do to you. The love for self of which Jesus speaks is not that unbalanced love that is preoccupied with self. Rather, it is a self-love that wants to be treated kindly and with respect. It wants to be dealt with honestly and with a genuine interest from others in its well being. It wants justice in its business dealings and to be heard when it has a complaint. So too, we must we must give this same love to others.

Love is the dynamic interaction that gives life its true, vital meaning and purpose. Love is not something passive. Love involves doing for others as you would have them do for you. The more love is active, the more it grows and expands within us. 

This short verse of a poem brings out this point well:

Yes, the heart grows rich in giving;

All its wealth is living grain;

Seeds that mildew in the garner

Scattered, fill with gold the plain.

Is your heart a living power?

Self-entwined, its strength sinks low;

It can only live in loving,

And by serving, love will grow.

Love is of no value if it is not given away to others. We cannot give what we have not received, learned, and experienced, and taken into our own minds and hearts. What amazing grace -- though we pour out our love upon myriad of others, the capacity to love is never diminished. It is somewhat like knowledge. The wise man can teach others all he knows by sharing it with them, and when he is through, his knowledge hasn’t lessened, but rather in giving it forth it becomes deepened in his own mind. Love has another very special feature to it. The more that love is given away and shared, the more joy and fulfillment is experienced by the giver. If love is hoarded selfishly, the result will be a joyless, unfulfilled life of emptiness and discontent. The Apostle Paul, quoting Jesus, makes this point in Acts 20:34-35: "You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and in everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Giving and serving is love in action and always yields its own reward. Godly Love is not just a benevolent feeling. Our feelings come and go with varying degrees of intensity. Some are brief and fleeting, while others are deep and longer lasting. Love that comes from the heart is always coupled with strong feelings. It was love and strong feelings of compassion that motivated our Lord to heal and feed the multitudes. It was His love and strong feelings of sadness that caused Jesus to weep over Jerusalem and at the grave of Lazarus, and that eventually carried our Lord through many difficult ordeals leading Him to Calvary's Cross.

Let us now walk through 1 Corinthians 13 and witness the beautiful manifestation of the fruit godly love displays so beautifully, described here by the Apostle Paul. From the Phillips translation: "Love is patient and kind... never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Never haughty, arrogant or rude. Love never demands its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges, and will hardly ever notice when others do wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him whatever the cost. You will believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever." Dropping down to verse 13, it says, "There are three things that remain: Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is Love! 

This is not a description of human love, but rather of godly love. It can only be ours if the Holy Spirit indwells us. Let us examine each of these manifestations separately so that we might better comprehend Love’s fruitage. What we will see is how true love conducts itself in various situations. 

Love is Patient

It is worthy of note that patience is the first quality the Apostle saw fit to mention. There is good reason for this. We read in Luke 8:15, "Bring forth fruit with patience." In Jas. 1:4 we are told "to let patience have her perfect work that you may be whole, lacking nothing." These scriptures and others make it obvious that patience is essential to fruit bearing. Just think for a moment of the enormous patience and long-suffering of our Heavenly Father in regard to His creation. Yes, if we really meditate on it, we will realize just how important patience is to the development of love within us. A lack of patience manifests an over-concern for self.

On the other hand, patience is the manifestation of concern for others. When we are impatient in some task we are doing, it is because it is not going the way WE think it should. Impatience and selfishness walk hand in hand -- they are best friends. We may become impatient with others when we think they act in ways that we think they should not, or when we are interrupted because we think what we are doing is more important. This often is done even before we find out the reason for the interruption. There is no getting around it, impatience is self-seeking and is the works of selfishness. Patience, as all the fruits of the Spirit, comes from God. These are not manifestations of human effort. This makes it possible to do the impossible as the following story so well illustrates: 

“There was a young Christian who was having a terrible time with maintaining his patience. He was so impatient with everything and everyone that even he could see that people were obviously avoiding him. This lay heavily on his heart. Finally, he decided to go see an elderly Christian man whom he considered to be very wise, and for whom he had high regard, and who always was an example of one who walked with Christ. He told the older man his troubling problem. After the young man had stated his problem, the older one suggested that they both kneel down and pray about the matter. The older Christian began to pray, ‘Gracious Lord, please give this young man tribulation in the morning, tribulation at mid-day, and...’ At this point the young man interrupted by grabbing the other’s arm and said to him in franticness, ‘I don’t think you understood what I said. My problem is with patience, not tribulation.’ The wise old Christian then went on to explain that it is only by adversity and tribulation that one comes to learn patience (Romans 5:3) and by allowing God to work in you.” 

In contrast to impatience, patience learns to reach out and be concerned for the feelings and well-being of others. Patience is flexible, never in a hurry; it is calm and wears the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Yes, loving patience seeks to understand and therefore quietly waits. There is a saying worth remembering: “Blessed are the flexible... for they shall not be bent out of shape.” Patience is...Love enduring!

Love is Kind

Kindness is the expression or act of love towards someone. It is a composite of benevolence, the desire to do good, extend sympathy, generosity, friendliness, and cordiality. Kindness can be said to be a language that is universally understood and is the oil that often reduces the frictions of life. Christian kindness is indeed love in action. Kindness is concerned with "doing good unto all men as we have opportunity, especially to the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10). It is emulating the example left for us by our Lord Jesus who the Scriptures tell us "went about doing good." Kindness walks with an open hand rather than a closed fist. It seeks opportunities to be useful as well as helpful. Kindness is the expression of loving understanding, for it realizes that everyone is fighting a hard battle. 

Adversity never sours the milk of true Christian kindness. Kindness will seek to understand and excuse any act that might be upsetting, deflecting it by kind thoughts. Yes, it is true: "I shall pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good that I can do, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” 

Love does not Envy

To envy is to have a feeling of discontent and ill-will because of another's advantage, position, or possessions. It is a desire to have what belongs to another. The one who envies is unhappy with their lot. Envy is the unbalanced thinking which says, “if I cannot have those things, then no one else should either.” Envy is very subtle and is often heard in the simple words, "So that is how the other half lives." 

Love on the other hand, is never envious or bitter because someone else possesses and enjoys something we do not have. Love is never frustrated or discontented at the success of others. Let us note that part of the thread that makes up envy is selfishness. Rather than being envious, true love would rejoice in the good fortune of others. It would always desire the best for others. Godly love would even desire to assist others in bettering themselves and their lot in life at a cost to self.

The seeds of envy grow slowly toward its fruition. Envy’s fruitage is never sweet. The Scriptures seem endless in their lessons to help us fight this foe to God-like love. In Gen. 4:4-8, Cain's envy of Abel led him to murder his brother. In Gen. 37:4-20, Joseph's brethren envied his relationship with his father so much that they too plotted to take his life, but were deterred by Reuben and sold him instead into slavery. In Num. 12:1-10, Miriam and Aaron were envious that only Moses was recognized as God's mouthpiece and because of this she was punished temporarily with leprosy. In Matt. 27:1-18, we read how the chief priest and elders of the Jews plotted the death of Jesus because they envied His influence and reputation among the people, and feared He would displace them in their seats of honor. If any of us find ourselves discontented with our position in life, especially in the church, thinking we could give a better sermon, or lead a better Bible study than the one who is doing it, let us look closely as to why we feel this way. If we have turned over our lives completely to the Lord, being abandoned to His will alone, there should be no room for envy because through submission and acceptance of God's will for us comes rest, peace, and heart contentment. In Philippians 4:11 the Apostle Paul says, "For I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Contrary to what the world thinks, contentment comes not from great acquisitions, but rather from few wants, and leaving everything in the hands of our All-wise, All-loving Heavenly Father. 

Love is never Boastful or Proud

Someone once said, "You are always in the wrong key, when you sing your own praises!" The Moffatt translation puts it this way: "Love makes no parade, gives itself no airs." Love does not seek to display itself so that it might be admired and thought well of. It is content with exercising love, knowing that with love God is well pleased. Pride is an unbalanced estimation of oneself. Its effect can be likened to one end of a magnet which always repels instead of attracting. The Apostle in Rom. 12:3 tells us, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Also in 1 Cor. 4:7 we read, "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 

There is no better example to be found for us than in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. We would like to contrast His humility with the deadly pride that was Satan’s downfall and could be ours. First, we will mention what the world's measure of greatness is and then contrast that with the life of Jesus. We will list the world’s view on the left and compare Jesus’ life on the right.

Pride of birth and rank --"Is this not the carpenter's son?"
Pride of wealth-- "The son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Pride of respectability--"Can any good thing come from Nazareth?"
Pride of personal appearance--"He hath no form, nor comeliness that they should desire him.”
Pride of reputation--"A friend of publicans and sinners."
Pride of education--"How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”
Pride of superiority--"I am among you as one who serves."
Pride of success--"He was despised and rejected of men."
Pride of ability--"I can of myself do nothing."
Pride of self-will--"I seek not mine own will, but the will of Him who sent me.”
Pride of intellect--”As the Father has taught me, these are the things I speak.”
Pride of legacy--He was nailed to a cross and his body was lain in a borrowed tomb.

Jesus surely left us the perfect example of meekness of spirit and humbleness of mind and heart. 

Which side of the sheet are we more like? 

Love is not Arrogant or Rude

Love, on the contrary, is always courteous. Arrogance and rudeness are signs of disrespectfulness generating from selfish pride. One is not arrogant or rude to someone they look up to or consider better than themselves. It is usually directed towards others who are thought to be in some way inferior, be it education, position, talent, etc. To act in an arrogant or rude manner is to be insensitive to the feelings of others. It is striking out without caring what the effect will be. Many do this to express their self-perceived superiority. This can take place in the church, if one looks down on someone less versed in the Scriptures than they are, and reacts in a prideful and superior manner during a study or discussion. The results of such action are usually unbecoming to those who behold it. 

Let us rather be gentle, courteous and thoughtful towards others. Yes, love does not behave itself unmannerly. Love does not demand its own way, is not selfish. True love will never take advantage of others by seeking its own way. In fact, love will put itself at a disadvantage if it can help others. Love is very cautious that it does not step on the toes of others. Love does not have a stubborn disposition. 

Listen to some of the synonyms for the word stubborn: unbend-ing, tough, hard, obstinate, unyielding, inflexible, stiff, headstrong, heady, pig-headed. May our lives always be such that none of these words can be attached to our actions. It is very easy for us to get caught up in the spirit of competition which is everywhere about us. Competition is the ground-rule of the world's economy, and its influence filters down to touch life at every level. Trying to outdo, or to be better than others, is seen even in the realm of small children playing together. Almost all competition serves a selfish end. 

Contrary to this, love is solicitous. It looks for opportunities to be of assistance even when it might be "out of season" to self. True love is not afraid to get involved! It seeks to fulfill the commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. True love is glad to listen to others and tries to understand the other's point of view. It is quick to acknowledge a better idea from someone else, and even goes further by commending the person for it. A selfish person will never attain true joy. There is no joy in having or in getting, for always more is desired. Joy comes by way of giving. The majority of the world are definitely traveling down the wrong road in their pursuit of this virtue. Jesus said he came to minister and to serve. The secret is found in 

His words and examples, and this is what gave His life meaning and was a source of satisfaction to Him when He was dealing with His disciples. 

Love is not Irritable or Touchy, not Provoked

When we are irritable and touchy, we have allowed self to again put itself in the number one slot. Our good temper will be tested time and again on the daily battlefield of life. When we choose to put love into action during trying circumstances and situations, it will neutralize all of life's acid and render sweet what would have otherwise been a bitter experience. 

If we are on the receiving end of insults or tested in some fashion, let us remember that love does not reciprocate in kind, for this would be rendering evil for evil. Love resists being insulted and will rather seek to understand why someone is provoked to act in such a manner towards us. A bad temper is much like a bolt of lightning causing much damage when it comes in contact with an object. 

It has been said: “A lack of patience, a lack of kindness, a lack of generosity, a lack of courtesy, a lack of unselfishness are all instantaneously symbolized in one flash of bad temper.” Will-power cannot change this disposition in men, nor will time. Only Christ can do this in our lives, and this will happen as we allow God to perform in us his marvelous work of transforming our minds to that which was also in His Son, Christ Jesus. The Apostle Paul admonished us in Phil 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus". 

Love Thinks No Evil 

Love does not hold grudges, hardly ever notices when others do it wrong. It is not wary or suspicious of others or their motives. Love is without guile. It never seeks revenge. It is never jealous, but rather is normally inclined to trust others. It is willing to be put in a position of vulnerability and is always quick to seek to see the best in others. Love does not look for closet doors to open in search of some old skeleton of wrong doing. It will never drop innuendoes or inferences that would cast a shadow on another. True love will seek to protect and to cover over what might be hurtful to others if it was made known. It isn't burdened with the tendency to feel slighted by others, but will always seek an excuse for their behavior. Love is not blind to the faults of others, but rather it chooses to focus on the good that is there. In doing this we are being co- workers with God, the Great Potter so that this fruit of the Spirit will grow. Let us be sure we “Abide in the Vine!” 

Love Is Never Glad Over Injustices 

Love rejoices when Truth wins out. Iniquity is by its very nature opposed to justice, righteousness, and love. As we look around us, we often see dishonesty being used for self-gain. However profitable wrong-doing may be, love would never be a partaker of it. Love has such an affinity for truth and righteousness that it would rather suffer loss, distress, and even persecution, if need be, in its defense. 

Being true to the standards of justice and righteousness will cost all its adherents in this present life. Love rejoices when justice and truth are exercised around us and praises God for it. 

Love Bears (Or Covers) All Things, Believes All Things, 

Endures All Things - Love Never Fails.

True love will seek to cover. gloss over, ignore, excuse, or hide the faults of others. The Apostle Peter in 1 Pet. 4:8 says that "Love shall cover a multitude of sins." What is so beautiful about Godly love is that it will endeavor to do all this in respect to others, even when it is the victim of the wrong. Love will always try to look deeper into what prompted the wrong action, so that it might deal more intelligently with the wrong-doer. Love is always inclined to believe well of others, even when appearances might indicate otherwise. It will do this, even when everyone else may have crossed them off their list. True love will always resist the inclination to give up on anyone, and so in so doing Love never fails.

This is the kind of love that our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus desire us all to have within us. It is this kind of love that they both have for us. And the marvelous thing is that this is possible if we allow the Lord by His Holy Spirit to work in us His good pleasure. Praise God and our Lord Jesus Christ for their great love that they would desire to do this for us.

Let us now consider why Paul said in verse 13, "There are three things that remain: Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is Love!" Faith, according to Hebrews 11:1 is defined as follows: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hope is stated in Hebrews 6:19-20 as something we possess as born-again new creatures. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” Faith and hope are closely connected. Faith is trusting in the promises of God and steps out in full confidence in the Promissory and the promise. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Hope holds out to us a promise. It is meant to be an incentive, something that will be ours in the future. Hearing produces faith and faith produces hope. Each is essential to the other.

Nevertheless, one is more important than these two. Faith and hope will come to an end when we are taken up to be with the Lord. They will have done their work and thus their purpose has ended. But this is not so with Love. Love continues on as a part of us in our changed spiritual bodies. We will be like our Lord Jesus and Heavenly Father in the very essence of Love, and thus be well able to assist our Lord Jesus Christ in blessing all the families of the earth, as His Bride. Much love and patience will be needed to uplift mankind to the standard of true righteousness. The overcoming Church will have been thoroughly tested in these manifestations of the fruitage of...Love!

The following story brings out the above point. It is called “No Farewell To Love.” “As an aged Christian lay dying, a friend called to say farewell. ‘I have just had three visitors,’ said the dying man, ‘and with two of them I parted; but the third I shall keep with me forever.’ ‘Who are they?’ asked the caller. ‘The first was Faith and I said, “Goodbye, Faith! I thank God for your company ever since I first trusted in Jesus; but now I am going where faith is no longer.” Then came Hope. “Farewell, Hope,” I said, “You have helped me in many an hour of battle and distress, but now I shall not need you any longer.” 

Last of all came Love. “Love,” I said, “you have indeed been my friend; you have linked me with God and with my fellow-men; you have comforted and gladdened my heart in its pilgrimage. But I cannot leave you behind; you must come with me for you, Love, will be my companion and friend for eternity.”’” And so it is with us -- love will continue on into eternity with us in our resurrected spirit bodies.