Learning about Love and exercising Love can be harder for some than others. Based on past experiences of what Love is, and what we hear from others and the Bible about God being Love, it is easy to get stuck somewhere in the middle trying to figure it out on our own.
The blurring images of the past can lead us to a wrong conclusion at any moment causing a knee-jerk reaction of defense in a false battle of the mind. It is at these crossroads we can choose to Love as Jesus does.
Each one of us has a past, and everyone falls slave to our flesh from time to time, but we are no longer slaves to sin because of the new nature in Christ through the Holy Spirit.
What is Love anyway? Let's look at what the Bible say's about it. Try memorizing this scripture, and then rehearsing it to yourself in your next contentious situation:
"Love Suffers Long, and is kind; Love Envieth Not; Love Vaunteth Not Itself (pushes itself forward), is Not Puffed up,
Does Not Behave Itself Unseemly (inappropriately), Seeketh Not Her Own, is Not Easily Provoked, Thinketh No Evil (not ready to suspect or remember someone's wrong and believing they are doing it again),
Rejoiceth Not in iniquity, but Rejoiceth In The Truth;
Beareth all things, Believeth all things, Hopeth all things, Endureth all things,
LOVE NEVER FAILS. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Is it also possible to be doing all the right things, being 'busy about our Father's business', involved in many important ministries, appearing to be mature in Christ, teaching others but still held hostage to our own past, our own flesh, Absolutely! To deny this would be to say we can become our own gods, that we have somehow arrived at a state of maturity and are now above sin. This is a dangerous place to stay even for a second. Paul explained to the church in Corinth that it benefits Nothing for the Kingdom of Heaven if we are busy in ministry, but do not function in Love.
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 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, and have not Love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Love, it profiteth me nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 KJV
To conquer the contention, and the contemptuous spirit, in your mind, your heart, and your home practice this:
Avoid the contentious one
Avoid controversies, arguments, and disputes
Abandon the quarrels, Fast, Quick
Follow Peace Moment By Moment
Let Your Love (Jesus) and Your Compassion Be Stronger for Your spouse and for those not making good choices, Be Stronger than Your Own Past, brokenness, feelings, emotions, experiences, or otherwise.
And DON'T QUIT! Our choice is His Gift to us.
On a journey of healing and hope with you,
Terri Lynne