The Challange of Faith

by truth_be_told 41 Replies latest jw friends

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  mrsjones5

  1 Corinthians 13

  Love

  1 If I speak in the tongues [ a ] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, [ b ] but have not love, I gain nothing.

  4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

  8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

  13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

  Let's look at the fourteen ingredients of agape love and how we can apply this love to our lives. In the above verse, Paul spells out clearly for us just what love is.
  

  1. Love is patient. Literally love suffers long; it has a long fuse. When Jesus was wronged, he was patient and silent.
  2. Love is kind. Love is going out of our way to be full of grace toward others.
  3. Love does not envy. Unconditional love desires the best for others. Our main goal is for our beloved to be all God intends them to be.
  4. Love does not boast. The Greek here implies we do not boast like a "windbag." Jesus never showed off. His greatness is often revealed in what He suppressed, rather than what He did or said.
  5. Love is not proud. God's love is not arrogant. Pride is inflated selfishness. Love is genuine humility.
  6. Love is not rude. It is never inconsiderate or inattentive.
  7. Love is not self-seeking. God's love does not grasp for its own rights. This rules out selfish, conditional types of love -- the "I love you if", and the "I love you because" loves.
  8. Love is not easily angered. It does not become irritated. it is not touchy. Jesus was never vindictive. He never retaliated when wronged. He never grumbled or had a bad temper. (His temple-cleansing was a controlled and calculated response.)
  9. Love keeps no record of wrongs. God's love forgives and forgets. Jesus came to blot out our sins and remember them no more.
  10. Love does not delight in evil but it rejoices in truth. Love is never glad when others do wrong or wrongs happen to others. It does not delight in the weakness of others. It does not gloat or gossip (or judge).
  11. Love always trusts, and believes all things. God's love gives the benefit of the doubt. It is loyal, yet not gullible. It is tolerant in judging others.
  12. Love always hopes. It never takes failure as final. It always looks toward the future, not the past.
  13. Love always perseveres. It endures all. God's love can not be conquered. If we endure with Christ, we will reign with Him.
  14. Love goes on forever. Love is eternal. It never fails. It never loses strength. It never leaves its place. It is immovable and indefatigable.

  So, there you have them, the fourteen ingredients of love. But I want you to do something else. I want you to read the list and replace the word "love" with "Jesus." It fits, doesn't it? God is love.

  Ttuthbetold, you think you have faith but I only see judgement. You may think you have love but on this board you show comtempt.

  There is nothing for me at the kingdom hall. I was raised there. I have seen the type of love the jws show and it is the same kind that you think you have shown here.

  I have no use for it. I have the grace of Christ and that in no way compares to the undeserved kindness of those men in brooklyn.

  Josie
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  Pubsinger

  
  
  
  
  

  You are making another assumption. I agree totally with Leolaia that that main issue here is "Is the WTBTS Gods EXCLUSIVE org and Channel"?

  Many, probably the majority here, would say no.

  However a different question I believe would be much more interesting and revealing.

  It is this: Does God use the WTBTS along with other Christian groups to communicate his word and accomplish his will, WITHOUT granting exclusivity to ANY group and DESPITE acknowledging the failings and imperfections of all his people worldwide?

  You recognise the errors and imperfections within the WT but feel that God will extend his grace to cover for them (which I think he will and does) but you cannot accept that God does EXACTLY THE SAME for all other Christians and the groups they associate with.

  See you on the other side brother. (Wherever that may be. Personally I think up)