First Corinthians 13:4-7
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.
Think about the people you love. How do they know you love them? Add the word “my” before each statement above. “My love is patient. My love is kind. My love does not envy, my love does not boast and is not proud. My love does not dishonor others, is not self seeking. My love is not easily angered. My love keeps no record of wrongs. My love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. My love protects, my love always trusts, my love always hopes. My love always perseveres.”
Does it ring true? Don’t beat yourself up if you winced a bit at some of the personalized statements or couldn’t quite muster up courage to speak some out loud. Join the club. We are all a work in progress; it is a life-long journey learning to love well.
Of all the things people might think about when their journey is near its end, love and relationships top the list. Guard some time each day to think about how you will love this day: love God, and love others whose lives you touch. . . While there is still time.
I’m finding it harder and harder to feel any love as I watch the current developments in politics in my country. I know I have to pray for the authorities, but I’m reaching a point where it’s hard to ignore what they’re saying and doing. It’s hard to bless them when you know that they’re doing so much harm with complete knowledge of their acts. And in times like these one wonders if 1 Corinthians 14:4-7 is too idyllic. But, of course, it’s not.
I think that Jesus’ command to love our enemies has always confounded believers across the globe. But we are not commanded to express love because our leaders deserve love, but because they so badly need it. . . And because loving unconditionally is essential to our faith walk. We cannot draw any closer to Christ without loving as he loved.
Thanks! I needed that!
Well now, that puts things in perspective, doesn’t it???