Hello there, guys! ADVANCE HAPPY HEART'S DAY, everyone! So, we began another Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) over a week ago featuring another Scripture Word Art which you can download for free at the WAW site. It comes from John 13:34 which says, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
It is important that we take this verse in context in order to understand how it differs from the world's definition of "LOVE" nowadays. Jesus was having His last supper with His disciples when He began to tell them some of the things that would transpire in the future hinting to His death and how they should love one another (the way He loved them) to identify them as His disciples. Hence, we can say that Jesus gave final instructions specifically to the people closest to Him. For not everyone would know how Jesus loves unless they spent a close and personal relationship with Him overtime. Nobody could understand what He meant by the words "as I have loved you" unless they are direct recipients of Jesus' love! So expecting an unbeliever to fully capture what Jesus said in this verse would be a mistake. Now that we've established the context of our highlighted text, is it just me or have you also noticed that we are being bombarded 24/7 by emotional doses of "self-love" programs from entertainment and social media sources? The world promotes and embraces it as a good thing. But something about it is creepy and toxic compared to the biblical definition of love personified and demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Even as believers (John 3:3, Born-again), none of us will ever love the perfect way Jesus did in His lifetime. But the good news is that we are being changed (sanctified) daily till we are conformed to the image and likeness of our Savior. Redeemed by the blood of Christ, the Father sees us in the perfection of Christ even though we are still walking through the process daily.
The world is trying its best to define love using people's emotions as its best weapon. When celebrities and influencers use self-love to tell people how they cope up with failed relationships, what it truly conveys is pampering yourself, seeking your advancement, all eyes on me kind of mentality. In other words---SELF-SEEKING! For if we truly want validation and assurance of our worthiness, we need to SEEK GOD! Jesus showed us what true love embodies in Romans 5:6-8 which says, "For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." I am a grateful recipient of our Lord's Agape (selfless) love! He withstood everything
(mockery, pain and suffering all the way to his death on the Cross) so that everyone who places their faith in Him will be reconciled with God. That is true love and the kind we are to show our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ. The whole world is watching. The world does not know that kind of love. We can show them by how we love one another.
I would like to share what I read from My Life Application Bible regarding our highlighted verse. It says, "Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God's kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return. Thus, the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others. To love others was not a new commandment (see Leviticus 19:18), but to love others as much as Christ love others. Now we are to love others based on Jesus' sacrificial love for us. Such love will not only bring unbelievers to Christ; it will also keep believers strong and united in a world hostile to God. Jesus was a living example of God's love, as we are to be living examples of Jesus' love."
For this Card, I used an image from Stamping Bella called "Baloonabella" that I colored using my Ohuhu markers. The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card with rounded edges. I used a border punch to shape the sides of this card from MS Stamp. The sentiment stamp on the envelope and the inside of the card is from W Plus 9. I added little dots of glitters to the image's dress from Stickles (Crystal) and lastly, some fancy stitching. Love the simple but elegant design.
ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER CARD
ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER CARD LAYERS
ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER CARD INSIDE
ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX
This Card is entered into the following Challenges:
Gem of a Challenge---ATG
Allsorts---ATG/All About Hearts
Di's Digis---One or More Hearts
Just Us Girls---Sparkle (little dots on the image's dress in glitters)
Sweet Stampin'---Love
Taylormade---ATG/Vintage/Romance
Crafty Catz---ATG/Add a Little Love
Creative Fingers---ATG
Pattie's Creations---ATG
As You Like It---Love or Friendship Card and Why?
(I love making Scripture Cards that can be given to friends or love ones/ Most of the time though,
I give cards to friends).
Cardz 4 Galz---One Heart or More
C.R.A.F.T.---Love/Valentine
Craft Rocket---Love/Valentine
DL Art---ATG
Make sure you join us at WAW Challenge. You can use the free Word Art
in your creation and link it to our Challenge but is not a
requirement. As long as it's family-friendly, uplifting and
inspirational, you can enter up to 5 times this week. Great prize to
be won from our wonderful sponsor---Top Flight Stamps ($25 GC).
So excited to see what you come up with. Anyway, cheer up and let the
love of the Lord overtake you today. In Christ, we literally have the
greatest love of all from our Father in heaven.
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