"Listen to beauty in this," Pastor Brothers again began to teach, "Love, cause that is what we are talking about today, is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is no proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 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. For we
know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the
imperfect disappears. When I was I 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. 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. And now these three remain, faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love."
Pastor Brothers took a moment before he began again to reflect on
what he had read.
"Ask yourself," Pastor Brothers continued,
"if that is the type of love
that you want in your life. Ask yourself if you want a perfect entity in
your life. Love is the only perfection on earth and that love is the spirit of
GOD. If you have the spirit of GOD in your life, your relationship, your
everyday, you will have the ability to be perfect in your walk. Do you
want a love that will last for a lifetime or a love that will last for the
moment? Do you want the love of money, or the spirit of love that is
worth more than silver and gold in your heart?
Do you want a love that
will bring you momentary physical pleasure, or a love that will bring you
lasting spiritual pleasure? Do you want a love that has the power to
hurt, or a love that has the power to heal? Ask yourself what kind of love
you want to receive. More importantly," Pastor Brothers slowed his
teaching, "ask yourself what kind of love you want to give. See I am
aware that love must be something magical, something that only GOD
can give completely and we can only receive it through HIM to offer it
completely. There are many forms of love, but true love, honest love,
committed love, unwavering love, complete love, strong love comes from
GOD. Love is in fact the greatest gift that GOD has ever given. How will
you use it?"
Allen sat looking at Pastor Brothers with an open heart as he spoke.
He thought about Gwen and what she meant to him in such a short
time. He thought about his father making the remarks of marriage to
him and he felt warm inside as he held Gwen's hand. Allen wanted to
love Gwen with all of the love that Pastor Brothers spoke of and he knew
that he was capable of loving her in that magnitude. His only fear, was
not knowing if he would be loved back in the same manner. As his
thoughts of loved danced in his head, Pastor Brothers spoke again.
"I'm going to leave you with this," Pastor Brothers said looking over
the crowd, then focusing on Allen.
"Love, loves no matter how it is
treated because it is always true love. Just as GOD so loved the world
that he gave HIS only begotten son. HE gave HIS son knowing that many
of us wouldn't love HIM back and yet, CHRIST still loved us enough to
die for us. Who more are we that we can't love someone without
expecting to be loved back? If you love someone, love them because you
love them. Don't base your love on the amount of love you expect to
receive."