What is your greatest aspiration in life? Some of us might answer, “to be successful.” Others may say “happiness” is their goal. Or maybe to “to feel no pain.” Is it to be esteemed and recognised by others, or to make an impact on the world so that you will be remembered after you die?
How we answer that question determines our life’s focus and course.
Even though some of us may not of ever considered, “what is our life’s greatest aspiration”, we all have one. It’s what guides us in our everyday decisions, beliefs and actions.
If our aspiration is recognition we will seek to do those things in life that will bring the most recognition. If our aspiration in life is security then the guiding factor in our life will be, “which way is the safest way”. If it’s to have fun, what looks like the most fun way to take?”
But today I thought, “what if our greatest aspiration was to simply live our life “one way”, and that one way was the way of love.
The bible exhorts us to “Let love be our highest goal! “(1 Corinthians 14:1)
Without love being our greatest aspiration and the one way we live, God says everything else we do is useless and empty. We may impress the world if we are a great business person, communicator, preacher, student, teacher, parent, or friend, but if we don’t live the way of love what does it all achieve and mean when we are gone?
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
How often do we major on the minors of life? But what if we didn’t. What if we just majored on the “one way” to live – the way of love? How differently would we communicate, relate to one another, and act and choose our course of action in life?
We can all possess many knowledge, which is highly esteemed in the world, “But knowledge puffs up, while love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1)
The bible gives some clear directives on what love is, and isn’t.
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].”
“Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]…. And now there remain: faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 13)
God does not leave us alone when He exhorts us to live a life of love. He knows our failings and weaknesses, and promises that He can cause even the stoniest heart to become flesh. He is Love, and when we open our heart and lives to him He promises He will flood our lives with a love that cannot be quenched, and does not fail!
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.“(Ezekiel 36:26)
“Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.” (Song of Solomon 8:7)
Let love be your highest aspiration and goal today. Let it chart your course, your speech, your actions, and your decisions. Let the way of love cause you to reach out to the people you meet, and motivate you to unselfish acts of kindness. Let it foster patience and forgiveness when dealing with those you live and work with, as you choose the one way, the highest way to live.
Prayer: Lord I want to live a life of love. Please pour your love into my heart so that I will have all the love I need as I go through my day today. In Jesus name. Amen
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