Tuesday, August 18, 2015

August 19, 2015

"It (love) always perseveres......"

You are the product of your decisions, as am I.

Lifetime consequences are usually the result of momentary decisions.

I can think of a few. I'm sure you can as well.

That's good to remember when you consider this characteristic of Godly love. Enduring love depends on daily decisions made in real time often on the spur of the moment. So, that being true, thoughtless or emotion driven decisions will not serve you well.

How then do you make decisions that will cause love to endure in your life? What is a practice that will produce a love that perseveres?

Great question!

It addresses the very reason Paul penned this epistle to the Corinthians!

Love that perseveres decides to be patient and kind in those pressure packed moments of daily life. It decides to take the grief and give grace rather and being envious, boastful, or arrogant. It is a momentary decision but it has enduring consequences!

Love that perseveres chooses to seek God's will and resists the urge to dishonor others, be self-centered, lose your temper or be vindictive. It is an instantaneous decision that requires devotion rather than emotion. Again, a momentary decision with monumental impact.

Love that perseveres resists the evil nature and clings to God's truth. While this requires counter-intuitive thinking and spiritual discipline that only the Holy Spirit can provide, it is possible even in the moment of temptation. Private choices get exposed in public ways.

Love that perseveres intentionally chooses to protect others rather than be defensive, chooses to give others the benefit of the doubt rather than be suspicious, and chooses to be optimistic rather than pessimistic toward others. Those decisions are made numerous times during the pressures of daily living but have profound effects on who you become.

One of the many ironies of Christian growth is lasting eternal consequences result from instantaneous and momentary choices. That's quite sobering isn't it?

How can you do this without a heart and mind completely transformed by the power of His love through the Holy Spirit?

Perhaps that needs to be your next decision?