There’s not a lot of random Internet topics to get us started, but we examine a common phrase that gets misused. The question is… is it Bible based? Or a myth? When hard times come, people often make this claim:

Everything happens for a reason in life.

Or… it only serves to make us stronger.

The statements hold a truth, but it isn’t as universal as people might like to think. An important condition holds the key. Without that important key, there’s no assurance behind the well wishes.

Romans 8:27-28 ESV

27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We’ve touched on the word of the week before, but it bears repeating.

Word of the Week

Sanctification

The experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.

In other words, it’s something believers do. Though salvation, or regeneration, is freely given through the working of the Holy Spirit and the price Jesus paid, sanctification is the ongoing, life long process in growing to a higher moral level.

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Main Topic

The Definition of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

In a boiler room, it is impossible to look into the boiler to see how much water it contains. But running up beside it is a tiny glass tube, that serves as a gauge. As the water stands in the little tube, so it stands in the great boiler. When the tube is half full, the boiler is half full; if empty, so is the boiler.

How do you know you love God? You believe you love him, but you want to know. Look at the gauge. Your love for your brother is the measure of your love for God.”

What Love Is and Is Not

(1 Cor 13.4-7)

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

(ESV)

* Patience

* Kindness

* Contentment

If a friend gains something, are we happy for them, or upset we don’t have what they got?

* NOT prideful!

* Love places others over self

* Love is well-behaved.

* Love is not selfish.

* Love doesn’t help someone just to manipulate them for selfish gains.

* Love is not angered easily.

* Love won’t judge harshly without knowing the details.

* Love won’t jump to conclusions

* Love often gives the benefit of the doubt.

* Love isn’t always accepting.

* In the world in which we now live, love has often gotten confused with acceptance. But sin is harmful, and accepting it is harmful to the person we are trying to love!

* If a friend is wanting to stay in a burning building, but we refuse to accept this, is that not love?

* Often our compassion to rescue sinners can be mistaken for lack of love. But true love holds the truth dear!

* Note verses 4-7: These are all VERBS. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!

* LOVE = ACTIONS

* LOVE IS NOT JUST FEELINGS/EMOTIONS!

* LOVE IS A CHOICE,