Maintaining a spiritual focus has allowed my strength to endure and overcome trails and tribulations. I invite you to meditate on the thought of the month provided by:

Rev. Wayne and Andrea Purcell
The Word Made Truth Ministry
76 Livingston Street
Asheville, North Carolina 28801

(828) 279-8562

Rev. Wayne and Andrea Purcell also have a prison ministry. Please feel free to ask questions pertaining to the thought of the month.

FEBRUARY 2007

Love has everything to do with it!

John 3:16 (The Message) This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

Corinthians 13:3-7 (The Message) If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

Tina Turner had a very popular song out many years ago called “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” The answer according to the word of God is “love has everything to do with it!” Everyone is searching for love, however many times in all the wrong places. During this month of love (Valentine’s Day) and Black History Month, it is evident that man greatest desire is to be loved. However, our methods for acquiring love often results in the opposite of our desire occurring (loneliness and hatred). We must learn to love & celebrate ourselves no matter what skin we are in. For we are made in the image of God Almighty (perfection) who epitomizes love!

In John 3:16, the word of God teaches us that the Creator and Giver of life loves us. It teaches us that God gave his best as a sacrifice for this love so that we might have life (not death) and have it more abundantly. If we could only grasp the enormity of God’s love for us we might realize our true worth and not squander our love away (like throwing pearls to the swine).

Corinthians 13:3-7 is in total contradiction to what many of us think love should be (about me, me, and me). These scriptures tell us that love is not selfish, impatient, and petty. But love is selfless, patient, and sincere. Many times in finding a mate the emphasis is place on feeling. Clearly, God’s word directs us beyond feelings toward sincere actions (fruit).

In reference to love be reminded of the following: 1. God is the best example of love that we will ever have. We will not know how to love until we become acquainted with the True Love Giver, God! We become acquainted with God, who is Love through His word by studying, mediating, and praying to rightly divide the word of truth. 2. We must love ourselves. Love requires us to respect the temple of God and not be swayed by pressures of this world. This world has a tendency to divert the truth. What’s right seems wrong and what’s wrong seems right. So to be knowledgeable of the truth about love we must mediate on the best one who ever lived, died, and arose, Jesus! Jesus is the personification of God’s love! “What does love have to do with it?” Love has everything to do with it!

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your love, patience, and mercy. Thank you for not giving us what we deserve and giving us another chance. We pray for forgiveness for not loving as you have loved. Help us as we go forward to live by your example of patience, selflessness, and grace to others. May others see our fruit and glorify our Father. Amen!