-The King of Love Comes In
-1 John 4:7-21

"Love is patient, love is kind...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."
-- (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Since God is love, we can put God in place of 'love' in 1 Corinthians 13. Doing so corrects my thinking that He is waiting to pounce on me. His love on the cross means He actually delights in us.

Jesus has taken all the punishment for the whole sinful world, and God's love never fails. These New Testament thoughts of God's love bring to mind an Old Testament Hebrew word, "hesed," meaning "steadfast" or "unfailing love." This love for a sinful people permeates the Old Testament and is personified in Jesus.

The first quality of love that our lives should show is patience. This is not grin-and-bear-it passivity. It's actively showing in our lives inward serenity whatever the provocation. This convicts me when I am irritable about not controlling things. Patience comes from the One who has shown such patience with me. Jesus loves you just like you are. When you invite Him to come into your life, by faith, He will help you to grow to be more like Himself.

Also, if the King of love rules in my heart, how can I persist in unkindness? At times do I feel free to dislike someone who is not well-disposed to me? Our King did not take that view of us before we turned to Him. Jesus teaches his disciples (followers), to love as He has loved us. "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." JOHN 3:16
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The King of Love my Shepherd is
Whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever."
--(H. W. Baker 1821-77) ~~

--Haven Today