Love

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:13

Love that will love no matter what you do to it. Love that loves back in every circumstance. Love that knows no bounds and will love until the end of doom. Love that will die for you, even though you hate it and try to murder it. Love that will forgive you, even though you do not want it, yet…

No human has this kind of love. This is the love of God. It seems irrational and dangerously sentimental. It seems foolish to us and too soft and pliable. But it is the love that unfolds the universe and upholds it by its eternal power. It is the love that keeps the earth alive, and every human soul until the end of their allotted days. It provides, protects and blesses everyone, every animal and plant that inhabits our globe, and will do so until the end will come. Then that love will bring in a kingdom of love that will never end, and change fully and forever, the human hearts that have believed on him – Jesus the king of love.

Love is what hold the triune God in perfect harmony and peace. It is the defining factor of the persons in that tryst, and binds then to each other in eternal bonds of that indissoluble love. It is the motivation behind the will of those persons, and the power behind the outworking of them. Love never fails, because it is of God. God is love….

Joy

“….whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory-“

1 Peter 1:8

Joy is a deep realisation beyond feeling and knowing. A realisation that never goes away. And will endure long past the end of life and into eternity. This joy is based on knowing and the reality of believing. It is dependant on God and not on a human source. It s a product of faith, for does not depend on sight, or feelings, or any human happiness, and endures because of the indwelling of the gracious and Holy Spirit of God. It cannot be put into words or sounds, the nearest we get to this is singing. It brings the reality of glory into the life of the ordinary human and makes us inheritors of the eternal kingdom.

When joy fills the heart, there is outward expression that cannot be stopped. It pours forth, like the eternal spring in the heavenly city, and brings refreshment to those around to whom it is sent. God’s joy knows no bounds and cannot be stopped by any other power, since they are weaker and lesser, and are swallowed up by the joy of the Lord. This joy is the strength of all those who believe…

Peace

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”

John 14:27

Jesus brought us peace with God, the people around us, and ourselves. He brings peace because He has made peace through the sacrifice of Himself, which can never be taken away or lost, once it is found. It is like treasure in a field, that we spend all our resources on, just to possess, and get, and keep.

It is a gift. We can never deserve it, earn it, or buy it, but accept it humbly from the hand of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We need never be fearful of anything ever again. Nothing can harm the one who knows this peace, because it is based on trust in the eternal God, Jesus Christ, the everlasting Son, and the perfect Spirit who fills our lives when we are surrendered to Him. We are full of this peace, which makes us strong, resilient and full of hope. Our courage never fails and we do the things God asks us to do with valour and power.

Love is the crowning glory.

Love makes everything easy.

Joy makes everything certain.

Peace makes everything possible.

Faith runs like a golden thread through them all…