Philippians 2:1-5, RSV:
“So
if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any
participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my job by
being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one
mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others
better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but
also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is
yours in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:12-17, RSV,
“Put
on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness,
lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a
complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds
everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in
your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in
all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in
your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Romans 12:9-18, RSV:
“Let
love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one
another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be
slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be
patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the
saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and
do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the
lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give
thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peaceably with all… Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.”
Proverbs 3:1-12, ESV:
My
son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for
length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not
steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write
them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in
the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not
lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will
make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn
away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with
wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,
for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom we
delights.”
“Being in love is a good thing,
but it is not the best thing. There are many things below it, but there are
also things above it. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a
noble feeling, but it is still a feeling. Now no feeling can be relied on to
last in its full intensity, or even to last at all. Knowledge can last,
principles can last, habits can last; but feelings come and go. And in fact,
whatever people say, the state called “being in love” usually does not last. If
the old fairytale ending “They lived happily ever after” is taken to mean “They
felt for the next fifty years exactly as they felt the day before they were
married,” then it says what probably never was nor ever could be true, and
would be highly undesirable if it were. Who could bear to live in that
excitement for even five years? What would become of your work, your appetite,
your sleep, your friendships? But, of course, ceasing to be “in love” need not
mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense-love as distinct from “being in
love” is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and
deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by the grace which both partners
ask, and receive, from God. They can have this love for each other even at
those moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even when
you do not like yourself. They can retain this love even when each would
easily, if they allowed themselves, be “in love” with someone else. “Being in
love” first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to
keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being
in love was the explosion that started it.”- C.S.
Lewis’s Mere
Christianity
Source :
http://iloveswmag.com/?s=FATHER%27S+FIRST+LOOK
