Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: LOVE (08/03/23)
-
TITLE: A Life Long Journey | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
08/08/23 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
We traveled to Utah on a trout fishing trip. It was early May but close to 10,000 in the mountains it was very cold. There were about 25 members from church that braved the weather that weekend. Many of them were true outdoorsmen hunters, fishermen and golfers. This group was known as the pastors casters. The group consisted of men at various levels of fly fishing. The expert fly makers taught us rookies how to tie our own flies. We had contests and prizes for various categories such as most fish caught biggest fish caught.
Our first day there it rained, then we were plummeted with sleet, and then it snowed. Not sure if that is the right order but we tasted all three elements. Of course someone shouted out at meal time, are we having fun yet?
We had devotion times between fishing and relaxing time. Michael, our pastor, did a class on one Corinthians 13 verses four through eight. Michael read the verses himself, and then we all read them together. When we finished, there was a extended moment silence. We all know how uncomfortable that can be.
Pastor broke the silence when he instructed us to replace the word love and the word it with our own name. We did this silently at first. Then we read the passage inserting our name out loud. This was an eye-opener for all of us. My love wasn’t as deep as I had thought it was.
Love must travel the longest journey of all time. The eighteen inches from our head to our hearts. When we commit to make this journey we begin to discover the true meaning of love. Love comes from God and whoever does not love does not know God. God is love. That is a very strong statement. How can we know god if we don’t live in love? Jesus said that there were only two commandments the first to love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.
To live with love deep in our hearts is the way the Lord wants us to live. Living this way is living the way Jesus lived and the way our Father wants us to live.
One Corinthians 13:4 starts out defining love as patient and kind. Love is the foundation of a good Christian. Jesus kept it simple for us. Now Paul goes into character defects. We all have that to sound agree, envy, boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others and it is not self-seeking. Love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. we can depend on love to always protect, trust, hope, and persevere. Most of all love never fails.
Without love we have nothing. But when our love for the Lord and others is right, we all win. I believe when people see our unconditional love they can also feel it.
Most of us have experienced and acted on some of these character defects but we are forgiven through the love of Jesus. Through His death on the cross and resurrection and ascension we get to be love.
After our experiment with Pastor, I realize that love is an ongoing journey. There will be times during the day when one or more of these character defects will emerge. It is my responsibility to turn from them and love like Jesus. The only way I can be successful in this love journey is to keep Jesus foremost in my heart. I can not do it alone.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
God Bless~