Dear editor,
As the Christmas season approaches in America, gift giving emerges as a show of love. Why? I think it’s related to the Bible verse that we all know [John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son ……. etc.]. See the connection God loved and then God gave. Another Bible verse includes the phrase ‘God is Love’ [1st John 4:8] at the end. But, the beginning of that same verse says something much stronger for you and me — he who does not love does not know God. There is even a stronger message in [2nd Thessalonians 1: 7-8] which says that when Christ’s second resurrection occurs, flaming fire will take vengeance on those who do not know God, nor obey the gospel of Jesus Christ! So, if knowing God comes from knowing love, then it’s critical to eternal life that we learn what Godly love is all about.
Learning about love starts when we are born. Parents, who know love, will nurture us from birth, when we are 100 percent dependent on them for survival. As we grow, their love for us still endures when we disobey, have temper tantrums, throw our food off our plates or our toys out of our playpen, or cleverly cry for affection or attention. Later, as we start to think, these loving parents set boundaries for our behavior and teach us to trust them for mercy and correction. We learn that behavior has consequences, even spankings. Yet, we know we are loved and safe.
So, let’s look at some sections of the Bible verse [1st Corinthians 13:4] that describes what God says love includes. Love suffers long and is kind, love does not envy, love does not behave rudely, love does not seek its own, love is not provoked, love does not think evil, love does not rejoice in iniquity (sin), but rejoices in truth, love bears all things, love endures all things and finally, love never fails. God also says in [John 14:15], "If you love Me, keep my commandments." Or, said another way, if you don’t love me, don’t keep my commandments.
So, love shows itself as we go through life and endures to the end. This is where I think of my friend Nell, who after 60 years of marriage still loves by caring for her disabled husband. By knowing Nell knows love, it’s obvious she knows God!
Love is always about giving and giving at Christmas is an annual re-awakening of the depth of love in our hearts.
JIM MOORE
Pace
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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Life’s goal is to learn love