Grace Abounds Ministries

 In the preceding article, we delved into the dimension of love encapsulated by the phrase "Love bears all things." Continuing on this trajectory in today's article, we explore how this enduring love is a testament to the magnitude of God's love within our hearts. We began by examining the process of enlarging our hearts to accommodate the infinite magnitude of God's love, enabling us to bear with all men and all things. A question was posed to me: "Is it possible to bear with all things?" My response was a confident "YES." Emphasizing that if it were not possible, the Bible would not have documented it. It's essential to recognize that whatever is true about Christ is true about us. This truth extends beyond what Jesus possesses; it also encompasses what Jesus can do. Jesus, indeed, bears with all things, including our failures, mistakes, and nonchalance. When acknowledging that what is true about Christ is also true about us, it's not...

Today, we'll look at this aspect of love, "Love bears all things." TPT translates it as "Love being a place of shelter," while another version  translates it as "Love protects." In simpler terms, love accommodates insults, injuries, prejudice, and differences without acting ill-mannerly or in disgust, or with annoyance. Another way to see it is that love puts up with everything and remains unchanged in the process. It is not embittered or corrupted in these processes. So, love bearing with everything is a testament to the magnitude to which our hearts have received God's love. We would be corrupted, defiled, and would even sin and err if injury, insult, prejudice, and the like do not encounter love in our hearts. So, of course, we are not talking about the love the world preaches or any natural form of it. We are talking about love that is only divine. Ephesians 3:17-19 Let me first say this: God is love! His love is the origin of His counsel and d...

  Someone who has experienced the love of Yeshua rejoices in the truth ( 1 Corinthians 13:6 ) In the previous article , I shared that Love does not rejoice in iniquity, in people's downfall, and the like. I also mentioned that the reason we often lack joy and excitement in our hearts is that we tend to look for others' downfall, condemn, castigate, and crucify them. Operating in joy becomes challenging under such circumstances.  However, through revelation and the experience of the Holy Spirit's work, I've come to understand that if you don't receive and extend the love of the Lord, other characteristics of the Holy Spirit, like JOY, cannot manifest. The default aura of a believer walking in God's love is Joy. I'm not just referring to emotional joy (although it includes that) but heartfelt joy that transcends circumstances and situations. That is the beauty of it. Therefore, when someone knows the truth, specifically the gospel of Christ, they rejoice. That...

  Love does not rejoice in iniquity. What does that mean? It means that Love finds no pleasure in sin. It isn't excited by sin, whether in its commission or when witnessing someone else commit it, and it certainly doesn't rejoice in the suffering or reproach caused by sin. Therefore, someone inspired by Love is not delighted to see people fall into sin. It's not the time to point accusing fingers or spread the news around. Beloved, when we truly understand what sin does to a person, we won't even wish for our enemies to be ensnared by sin. We can only see things in their proper light when we view them through the lens of what Jesus went through on our behalf on the cross. Beloved, it was our sins that led Him there. When you consider the consequences of our sins on Jesus' body, it becomes impossible to rejoice when people fall into sin. No one needs to be a victim of sin and its consequences because Jesus has already taken care of it. However, when someone is taken ...

  Today, we will be discussing "Love thinks no evil" ( 1 Corithians 13:5 ) So, what does it mean when the Bible says, "Love thinks no evil"? I see it in two ways, namely: It means that one does not keep a record of wrongs done to them, nor do they dwell on the evil done to them or constantly ponder upon it. Someone who is influenced by Christ's love does not impute evil or reckon it against the one who has committed it. Because someone who has received Christ's love understands the gravity of the sin they have committed, yet they have received forgiveness. Therefore, It will not be a callous and unforgiving heart that keeps tabs on people's errors and mistakes. But when we have come to terms with the love we have received from Christ, we will not hold people captive with the evil they have done against us. We will not keep them in our hearts. Actually, when love encounters evil, love will displace it. The reason we might harbor evil in our hearts is that...

1 Corinthians 13:5  1 Peter 2:21-23 I've often heard people wonder, "How is it possible that Christ never sinned?" While there are numerous insights I could share on this topic, let's focus on one thing: Peter, who was closest to Jesus, serves as a firsthand witness. Whatever he conveyed about Christ holds true. Consider this perspective. Peter remarked, "For this reason you were called." What reason is that? To understand, look at the preceding verse where he discussed enduring insults or mistreatment even when you've done well. Now, here's what Apostle Peter clarified: "We are called to endure insults and assaults, especially when we're on the right path." When people incite us and act against us, God's call for us is not just to tolerate, but to respond with love. Remember, this suffering is an integral part of your life as a Christian, not in the sense of material lack, but in enduring mistreatment. Particularly as Christians, t...

I n today's article, my focus rests on the profound statement, "Love is not provoked" (1 Corinthians 13:5). To be provoked implies irritation and anger, emotions that external circumstances can evoke. It involves a response from within us, shaped by various influences. Often, provoked reactions stem from handing over our emotional control to external forces. This lack of emotional restraint leads to consistent irritation and retaliation due to the absence of a stabilizing force within us. Our emotions become vulnerable to triggers, causing us to react impulsively. What we truly need is an inner anchor, a binding force that prevents us from succumbing to the destructive path of Cain. In 2 Corinthians 5:14, the Bible emphasizes the power of Christ's Love that constrains us. The binding force that can secure our emotions is the Love of God. This force enables us to remain serene and joyful even in the face of adversity. It transforms our inclination towards hatred into a...

In our exploration of the fruit of the Spirit, we turn our attention to the profound concept of love, viewed from the perspective of God. Often, our understanding of love falls short of its true essence, but God, being the personification of love, holds the perfect definition. Love originates from Him and flows through us as we draw near to Him. Referring to 1 Corinthians  13:5, we come across the aspect of love that declares, "Love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil." Today, our focus lies on the phrase, "Love does not seek its own," aptly expressed as "love does not selfishly seek its own" in TPT. What does this mean? It conveys that divine love transcends self-centeredness, where personal happiness is not pursued at the expense of others. A heart motivated by God's love considers the needs and well-being of others, above its desires. However, it is important to understand that "not seeking you...

Continuing from the previous discussion on Love, specifically focusing on “Love is not rude,” I’ll dive deeper into the importance of politeness, respect, and gentle conduct in our daily interactions. Drawing inspiration from 1 Corinthians 13:5 to explore how embodying these virtues reflects the transformative power of Christ's love within us. When we are motivated by the love of Christ, we naturally refrain from behaving unseemly. That means we avoid dishonoring our neighbors or anyone we come into contact with. Instead, we strive to uplift and positively impact others, avoiding emotional harm in our interactions. Respecting those in authority  Not being rude means being polite and gentle and treating others with the honor and respect they deserve. A crucial aspect to address is respecting our superiors, elders, bosses, and those who have lead over us. As Christians, we are to be the most polite and well-mannered individuals, reflecting the state that God has placed us in—His lov...

  "Love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil." (1 Corinthians 13:5) In 1 Corinthians 13:5, Paul highlights another characteristic of love inspired by the Holy Spirit: Love does not behave rudely. That means that love does not intentionally dishonor or harm others. Those motivated by Christ's love do not seek to shame or disgrace others. In simpler terms, love is polite, courteous, and civil. Seasoned with Grace The concept of behaving unseemly, as mentioned here, primarily refers to being vulgar. Although there are other ways to behave unseemly, such as through attitude, gestures, and body language, I want to focus on vulgarity. In Colossians 4:6, Paul tells us to let our speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how to respond to each person. That emphasizes that our words should reflect the grace we have received. Unfortunately, we often speak in a derogatory manner and negatively impact others because we fail to ...