THE ACTIONS OF LOVE

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8.

One of the greatest words in human civilization and the interaction of God with humans is the word "love." The word "love" has been subjected to great abuse and misuse. Yet where there is a counterfeit, there is always the real. Where there is a fake, there is the original.

The deeds of love reveal what love is and can be. The apostolic creed and the Nicene Creed which we sing and recite are  deeds of love. God's love is revealed in his giving. This is the testimony throughout scriptures.

John 3:16 says: "God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in his son should not perish but have everlasting life." Giving is the definitive action of God.

From the beginning of time, God has always given. He will continue to give into eternity. Everything we recite in the apostolic creed is his act of giving. He gave us creation. The deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt is a gift. He gave the law at Sinai as a gift. He sent the judges as a gift to save his people at a time of great national crisis. He sent the prophets to guide us in the right path. He brought the Babylonian exile to an end as a gift. His greatest gift is the coming of Jesus to humanity.

Jesus lived a life of giving. He gave his entire life to teaching and healing those who were hurting. He fed people who were hungry. He spent time with people at their parties. He associated with sinners. He gave the Eucharist. He gave his all on the cross, his very life.

There can be no love without action. The evangelist St. John says: "Children let our love not simply be in word but in deed." I John 318. To love is to act for the well being of the neighbor. To love is to resist evil and sin. To love is to care. Many of the teachings of Jesus are filled with examples of love.

In Luke 10, the Good Samaritan lifted up a wounded person and nurtured the person to life. You are called to lift up others in life. We are not called to make it alone but to make it together. There is oil and wine that God has given you to pour upon your generation. Elisha poured water upon the feet of Elijah, opening up his way to prophetic greatness. Who you serve will determine where you are able to rise in life. Jesus poured water on the feet of his disciples. The woman in Mark 14:3 poured oil upon the feet of Jesus. What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.

The Rich man in the parable of Lazarus refused to act in love to alleviate the suffering of the poor man. His eternal destiny was in a place of torment. The scene of the last judgment is very dramatic. It is all based on actions of love: feeding the hungry; giving water to the thirsty; clothing the naked; visiting the imprisoned and sick, etc.

The greatest test in life is the test of love. To love is to pass from death to life. Hear Jesus say to you today: "Go and do the same deeds of love as the Good Samaritan did."

Potentiality Action Key: The ultimate success in life is to love the brother, the sisters and all God's creation.



TAKE MY WORD TO THE WORLD.

OMOROVIE M. IKEKE.

Author of more than 25 books.
Buy his latest book: "YOU ARE TALLER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS: MOVING AHEAD WITH POTENTIALITY THINKING." click and buy at http://www.1stbooks.com/bookview/20784