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Just as God is eternal, so is his love. Christians are born out of a love relationship with Jesus Christ. In Exodus 34:6-7 God says this about himself: "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate, and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth." We want to upgrade your life with this most powerful force between himself and us, and between ourselves and others, which is love. How does God define love? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Let me get your attention with this sobering fact of love from 1 John 4:19: "we love because he first loved us," as we see expressed then in John 3:16. It is because of this initial act of love on his part, that we are able to love as he loves. The fullness of his love is not a natural attribute of ours that we possess on our own. His love is the key, which opens the door to truth, transformation, and the "New Community of Love." God's love is unique, transforming and invincible. He says this about his love in Ephesians 3:17-19: "…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with al the saints….that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. A basic need of human personality is love. Two of the most important questions are: "Am I loved?" and "do I belong?" God answers these questions in Deuteronomy 7:7-8: "You are loved." In Deuteronomy 5, God tells us more about love: 1) Love is expressive: 5:16-20, 2) Love is urgent: 5:4-14, 3) Love is demonstrated: 5:15. In the New Testament, love is defined thoroughly in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. In fact, love is the foundation and center of the entire body of scripture according to Jesus' words in Matthew 22:36-40. Now, based upon these facts, you can only love others based upon your ability to love God. Any person who responds in kind to God's love will be able to love others by the same degree. Put another way, you love others only as you are able to love God. As we pursue God's love, his contribution of more love is exponential and results in your love for self and others becoming outstanding and effective. Our goal is to help you love God more thoroughly by showing you how to "Live a Life God Rewards" and getting rid of inhibitors, like fear, pride, hate, envy and other negative elements in your life and to be a part in the process of establishing loving relationships with others. We call the process, "The New Community of Love" and if you will but click on to classes you will see how it all comes together. Thank you for your patience and God bless you, expand your territory, and may he have his hand on you, and keep you from evil. --William V. Harrison, elder
Click here for "The Way of Love"
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