Yes, the title to this post is 100% true!
By the time you finish reading this post you will be able to fall in love with anyone in 90 seconds or less, so before you continue reading this you need to ask yourself if that is something that you really want to do?
Before we go any further we need to establish the true definition of love because love is a term that has been seriously hijacked by the world and twisted in both its meaning and definition. Here is listed the Webster's Dictionary definition of the word love.
LOVE:
a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person
: attraction that includes sexual desire : the strong affection felt by people who have a romantic relationship
: a person you love in a romantic way
1 a (1): strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties love
for a child> (2): attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3): affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates>
b: an assurance of affection love
WARNING: What you are about to read is a very graphic picture of what true love is and the word used for love is it's original word, Charity.
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." ~ 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13
I find an interesting passage in Matthew where the disciples are asking Jesus about what can be expected in the last days, and most you reading this are very familiar with portions of this passage. You know it, but you may have missed something that I had always missed when I read it before.
"And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" ~ Matthew 24:3
Jesus goes on to outline in detail some things to expect that include a list of activities that sound very familiar to our world's events: wars and rumors of wars, nation shall rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.
Then He begins to address the His people in specifics that make us uncomfortable. The Jews saw this in the holocaust and today's events seem to echo the early stages of that terrible event years ago.
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." ~ Matthew 24:10
Then Jesus begins to speak of the rest of the world again. Pay very close attention to what is coming down the pipe and ask yourself where you see this happening.
"And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." ~ Matthew 24:9-12
The last phrase really hit me. Because of sin in the world, love for others will grow cold.
Because of the effects of sin on people, the desire to show genuine love for them diminishes dramatically.
After all, who in their right mind would want to love a homeless drug addict who would do or say anything just to get another fix? Who would want to reach out in love to a family in need? They made poor financial choices so they deserve to "pay the piper" right? How in the world can a God loving and dedicated Christian really be expected to show love to someone who is living their life in total contradiction to God's word?
"...And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
~Matthew 24:12
Because of the fruit of iniquity that is manifested in our society we make excuses as to why our love should wax cold for people who do not seem to be "worthy" of it don't we.
"I'm not giving that bum at the side of the road a dollar because he is milking the system"
"She made her bed, she needs to lie in it and I am not helping her until she admits how she should have listened to me on the first place."
"He knows what he is doing is wrong."
"I don't care how many times they ask me, I'm done with them."
"They are choosing to live in sin."
"They are foolish with their money, how dare they ask me for yet another bail out?"
"...And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
~Matthew 24:12
Who is it in your life that you say, "I could never love that person?"
We all have them right? People that seem to make it impossible to love. People whose names and the thought of our love do not seem to connect together right?
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
~ Matthew 5:43-45
~ Matthew 5:43-45
There are so many scriptures which lay out the reality of the idea that true love (1 Corinthians 13) is the natural by-product of a Christian to others. Not only is the command given, but 1 Peter reveals how it is POSSIBLE for the Christian to have this true love for others.
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." ~ 2 Peter 1:3-4
As I read this passage, I notice how we have been given the DIVINE NATURE and this new nature at salvation is the key. Look at the full passage and see just what we now have the access to as a Christian.
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." ~ 2 Peter 1:5-11
This is not something I need to strive to attain or force myself to display. This is something that flows naturally out of the Christian and if these attributes are not seen in the life of a Christian then the reason of an attitude of blindness to what we have been given. Notice the words, "But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."
Our lack of focus on what Christ did for us results in us living not from the Spirit but rather living from the strength of our flesh. The "flesh" is simply operating out of my own resources. We walk in the Spirit so as to not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The Christian who is walking in the Spirit is able to naturally dispense true love for even the most "undeserving" of people.
So if we are told to love others and given the ability in our new nature to love others, how do we love others when we don't feel like it?
We consciously shift our focus from our feelings to our facts! Here is a short 90 second exercise that when practiced will transform your opinion of love.
HOW TO LOVE ANYONE IN 90 SECONDS OR LESS.
1. THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD MADE YOU. (10 Seconds)
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." ~ Psalms 139:14
2.THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD MADE YOU COMPLETELY UNIQUE. (10 Seconds)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." ~ Ephesians 2:10
3. THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. (10 Seconds)
"For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust."~ Psalms 103:14
4. THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD KNEW THE CHOICES YOU HAVE MADE WHICH LED YOU TO BROKENNESS AND HE LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO GO AFTER YOU TO MAKE YOU WHOLE. (10 Seconds)
"A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." ~Proverbs 16:9
5 . THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD MADE YOU WHOLE. (10 Seconds)
" And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: " ~ Colossians 2:10
6. THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD CAN MAKE ANYONE WHOLE. (10 Seconds)
"When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." ~ Mark 2:17
7. THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD DESIRES TO MAKE EVERYONE WHOLE. (10 Seconds)
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." ~ John 3:15-16
8. THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD HAS STRATEGICALLY PLACED YOU IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND YOU BECAUSE GOD DESIRES TO MAKE THEM WHOLE. (10 Seconds)
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:14-16
9. THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOMEONE SEE GOD'S LOVE FOR THEM THROUGH YOU. (10 Seconds)
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
~ 1 Peter 2:9
~ 1 Peter 2:9
I promise you this short exercise will transform your love life! Bible memorization is great, but it is useless if you do not take the time to MEDITATE on what you MEMORIZE.
We need to KNOW what we KNOW.
Climbing with you,
~Dan
We need to KNOW what we KNOW.
Climbing with you,
~Dan
* If you enjoyed this post, I would like to reccomend:
"Why I choose to no longer invest in people": Click Here)
"Why I choose to no longer invest in people": Click Here)
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