God's prompting for sending Jesus came from his love for his created beings (John 3:16). It was his love for us, a mother's love, that made God want to gather us up like a hen gathers her chicks (Matthew 23:37). This undercurrent of a desire for the well being and good of others is the basic stuff of spirituality.
When God talks about love (1 Corinthians 13) it is about concern for others. Love is PATIENT with others, kind to OTHERS, not boasting ABOUT SELF, not proud OF ONESELF, not easily angered WITH OTHERS always hopeful, trusting, protecting and persevering WITH OTHERS. This love runs deep within the spiritual person...(the Corinthians had none of it)...
This Godly instinct is why LOVE is the GREATEST COMMAND, and why God desires MERCY and not sacrifice. It is why faith that moves mountains, and people who can speak with the tongues of angels and those who give themselves on the altar of sacrifice have done NOTHING if the foundational motivation (LOVE) does not exist,
So, there it is....what pleases God...a loving heart, the FIRST of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5). The Spirit is here to manage the image of God is us, love that flows in us because it flows in God. Foree
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