Mood: amorous
Topic: 1 Corinthians 13:8 -11
Believers are called to live a life of sacrificial love, just as Jesus did. This involves loving God with our whole hearts, forgiving enemies, putting others' interests before our own, and loving one another. In Corinthians, Paul penned a description of biblical love. He said, "When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me" (1 Corinthians 13:11b NIV). What the apostle described to be the hidden enemy of loving relationships: childish thinking.
Our beliefs form a mental "grid" through which we interpret life. Into this system, we incorporate things we learned as children, which may or may not be accurate. One such example of immature thinking equates performance with acceptance and love. Our young minds may have formed the belief that success equals approval or that love is dependent upon achievement. As we grow up, such imbedded assumptions can easily be manifested in our behavior and spill over to our expectations for others. We might pressure coworkers to adhere to our standards or place unreasonable demands on our spouse and children, which can result in tension and disharmony.
Our relationship with God can also be affected by childish thinking if our need to "measure up" keeps us from feeling loved and accepted by Him.
By releasing our inaccurate beliefs about performance and acceptance, we free ourselves to experience God's unconditional love. Then, we're able to accept others the way He has embraced us. Do you believe you are fully accepted and loved by God?