Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils
over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself
haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not
rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us)
does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking;
it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil
done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong). It does not rejoice
at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to
believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all
circumstances, and it endures everything (without weakening). Love never
fails (never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end).
~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Have you ever wondered what love is? We live in a culture that celebrates
love, but the love it celebrates is not the love that God speaks of. Look at
the verses above to discover the true meaning of love...a love that is pure,
unselfish, giving, holy.
These verses easily describe God and His love for us....1 John 4:8 says that
'God is love'. If you've ever wondered how God loves you, read those verses
again - His love endures long, is patient and kind, even when we fail Him and
fall short in so many ways. His love is constant and abiding, and it will
never fail you.
As we experience the love God has for us, we can give that same love to those
around us each day. And not just to those we like....we also need to share
that love with those that offend us or hurt us, forgiving them, and praying
that His love becomes real to them just as it has become real to us. We need
to believe the best of every person, knowing that God loves them as much as
He loves you and me, and that the way we react to them will show them the
reality of His love working in us and flowing towards them.
Lord, help each of us to lay aside all that hinders us from knowing Your love
and from sharing Your love with those around us. Teach each of us to love as
You have loved, and help us to live the truth of these verses from 1
Corinthians 13. Give us tender hearts that we might hear Your voice and
follow Your will today, we pray. Thank You once again for the gift of Your
Son, that we might have eternal life and know Your love completely.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
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