It is all About Love

Today was a special day at church, it was one of those services where the various teaching and scripture readings flowed together as if the Sunday School Superintendent, adult Sunday School teacher and pastor had planned it all in advance. It all starred with a prayer by one of our members who is active in mission work, in his prayer he mentioned something about praying for our enemies. After this awesome prayer the Sunday School Superintendent read the following scripture that he had selected prior to the opening prayer:
Matthew 5:43-48 KJV [43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so? [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 After the scripture reading by the Superintendent, then the Sunday School teacher, which happens to be yours truly read the scripture that he would be teaching from:
Romans 12: 9) Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. The scripture we were looking at today was the first part of the verse, 'Let love be without dissimulation'. Since we were studying about love today, I had selected the following scripture prior to this mornings service:
 Matthew 5:43-48 KJV [43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so? [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 

 Did you notice something? This was the same passage the Sunday School Super read, we did not plan this. After this reading from Matthew 5 I read and taught from 1st Corinthians 13.
 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV [1] … Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. [2] 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, and have not charity, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor , and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. [4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh(take into account) no evil; [6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; [7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. [11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. [12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. [13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 Guess what text the Pastor used for his message? 1st Corinthians 13. He said God laid this passage on his heart the night before, I have no reason to doubt him. The thread of love run strongly through our service today, I believe God was telling us of the importance of loving one another with His love, a love imparted to believers through the Holy Spirit. I believe this common thread of love at church today was the work of God, may we embrace the grace to put this love into practice.