{"id":23322,"date":"2020-02-08T10:39:37","date_gmt":"2020-02-08T15:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=23322"},"modified":"2022-03-01T13:05:55","modified_gmt":"2022-03-01T18:05:55","slug":"love-in-deed-is-love-indeed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=23322","title":{"rendered":"Love in Deed is Love Indeed!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our signboard said…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

LOVE IN DEED<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

IS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

LOVE INDEED<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

Deed?\u00a0 Indeed!<\/span><\/h3>\n

This message (as so many others) relies on a play on words.\u00a0 Maybe a silly play on words.\u00a0 If you just read this message aloud you wouldn’t catch the word play.\u00a0 It would simply sound redundant. But when written out, it gives a deeper meaning that can serve as a reminder.\"\"<\/p>\n

Indeed.\u00a0 At least in the US, it’s not a word we normally use in common conversation.\u00a0 Websters defines it as: “Without a doubt; certainly.\u00a0 In reality; in fact.”<\/p>\n

Then there is the other word in this play on words:\u00a0 Deed.\u00a0 Websters defines Deed as: “Something performed; an act.\u00a0 An exploit or feat.\u00a0 Performance or action in general.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Love in Deed<\/span><\/h4>\n

We often think of love as a noun. It’s something you have; something that characterizes your emotional state (“In love”).<\/p>\n

In the Bible, 1 Corinthians chapter 13 is familiar to most people.\u00a0 It’s commonly known as the “Love Chapter.”\u00a0 In this chapter, Paul describes love as if it were a person (“anthropomorphism” or whatever that big word is…<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Here are some descriptions of love which are probably familiar to anyone who has attended a Christian wedding ceremony:<\/p>\n\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tLove is patient, love is kind…\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLove does not envy…\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLove does not boast, it is not proud…\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLove is not rude, it is not self-seeking…\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLove is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs…\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t
\n\t\t\tLove does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.\n\t\t<\/div>\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\n

All of these characterizations are ways that we can react to life’s situations.\u00a0 If you’re waiting in a long checkout line and the person behind you has a child who keeps screaming and ramming a cart into the back of your legs, how would you respond?\u00a0 Paul says here that if you respond in love, you would be patient.\u00a0 If you did say anything you would speak kindly;\u00a0 you will not fume and become rude.\u00a0 And you wouldn’t even think “MY kid would never do that… I’m a better parent than you!”\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Being able to respond in love isn’t necessarily something that comes naturally.\u00a0 It’s a gift from the Holy Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of the above is given from the negative point; things you do if you are not acting in love.\u00a0 But Paul ends this passage with one bold statement about what love does do:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Love Indeed!<\/span><\/h4>\n

Love that is “certain” and “real” isn’t just something that you have, and it’s not just something that you feel. \u00a0\u00a0 It’s something that you continually strive for.\u00a0 It’s action that’s motivated by a priority on God and on others.<\/p>\n