Dear Friend,

Every now and then I go through First Corinthians chapter 13 to remind myself how the love of God can help us become more like our Heavenly Father. I find it amazing that the Apostle Paul spent enough time in prayer and in God’s Presence to be able to change from a man set on destroying Christians and everything Jesus stood for to a man who could write First Corinthians 13.

Paul had a real encounter with Jesus and was changed, yet today I am hearing from people who think it’s just too hard to change. I believe with all of my heart that once we allow Jesus into our heart, we can’t help but change.

I know that when we stop to think of how long it took us to grow up in the natural, “change” can seem like a scary process, especially since we all have to start out as spiritual babies. However, there are things we can do to enhance our growth and build a solid relationship with the Lord, such as reading the Word, praying in tongues, and spending time in worship.

I will never forget how surprised I was the first time someone got really ugly with me, and yet, I didn’t want to beat the person up! I had to laugh because it was such a big change in my life. Worry had been changed into peace and sadness had been changed into joy.

Turning your heart over to Jesus really does make a big difference. There is healing that you can receive when you let go and let Jesus inside.

We weren’t meant to carry all of life’s burdens—that’s what Jesus did for us on the Cross. Paul gave us a really good guideline for how we should live in First Corinthians 13:1-13:

Though I speak with tongues of men and angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [love], I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing.

Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity [love] envieth not; charity [love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in inquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity [love] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth in faith, hope, charity [love], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [love].

Life’s not about what we can do by our works, but whether we can forgive, whether we can love people who aren’t lovely, whether we can love them enough to tell them the truth, amen.

I was very grateful and I still am that Jesus laid down His life for me. And I know He did the same for you. He loves us so much, and we love Him. He is our Beloved Lord and Savior.

In His love,

Donner Roberson