Love "does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;"
1 Corinthians 13:6 NASB1995
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness/iniquity/sin. Neither in one’s own sins nor the sins of others. God is love and love is as opposed to sin as God is. It’s not a matter of feeling or opinion, it’s a matter of fact. A matter of the nature of both God and love.
This is in stark contrast to the misconceptions people have about love in our day and age. Why can’t we rejoice when a homosexual couple is in love? “Love is love”, people say. However, homosexuality is iniquity. Love does not rejoice in inquiry. Neither does God. Neither should we. And the same goes for adultery and fornication and pornography and every other form of sexual immorality. And not just sexual immorality, but any unrighteousness.
Love does not rejoice in idolatry. We may rejoice in our idols. When our idols take us away from loving and serving God and His people. Can I rejoice in my family member’s promotion when the idolatry of their schooling or work has taken them away from the Lord? Can I rejoice in my friend’s athletic achievements and victories when they’ve sacrificed their faith for the golden idol they place on their trophy stand? Love does not rejoice in any form of iniquity. May we be mindful not to either.
Love does rejoice in truth. In righteousness. This is how we were to have learned Christ, and lived Christianity, since the beginning of our faith,”...learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:20-24)
Love rejoices with that which is pure and holy and righteous and true. It rejoices in all grace and peace and goodness. Love rejoices when people respect and honor God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love rejoices when we put God first and have no other gods/idols before Him. Love rejoices when children honor their parents. Love rejoices when spouses honor the marriage bed. Love rejoices when people speak the truth, do not envy their neighbor, show restraint and patience to their neighbor instead of violence, etc. Love rejoices in you, with you, when you are walking according to the high calling of the gospel.
This day, as you make choices/decisions in your life, ask yourself, “Can love rejoice with me in this?” “Can love rejoice for me in this?” If the answer is “no”, then perhaps we should make a different decision.
Comentarios