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.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
In these verses, penned by the Apostle Paul, God’s word describes the essence of divine love as qualities we can understand and strive to embody in our daily lives. As my friend Harold likes to say about my preaching, “You explain it simple so even a dummy can understand.” This is what Paul does in 1 Corinthians 13: he explains it simple. While this passage is often cited during weddings (like at Terri and I’s Great Hitching), it holds a deeper meaning that applies to all types of love: familial, friendly, and spiritual. God’s word challenges us to reflect on the purity and selflessness of our love towards others. This description of love that the Apostle Paul distills isn’t just an ideal; it’s a reflection of God’s love for us! Our Heavenly Father’s love is so profound and unwavering that He sent His only Son to bridge the gap sin had forged between us. As we think on this great passage of Scripture, let us be reminded that to love as God loves means to extend grace, forgiveness, and kindness to others, even when it’s hard. The Apostle Paul’s words issue a call to love not from our own strength but from the overflowing abundance of love we get from God.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your boundless and unconditional love. Father, help us grasp the depth of Your love for all of us and teach us, Holy Spirit, how to reflect that love in our interactions with our neighbors. Please show us how to love others like Jesus loves us. Help us be patient, kind, and forgiving, mirroring the love Your word describes in 1 Corinthians 13. Let our lives be a testament to the love we have received from You. In Jesus’ Name, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
How can you show God’s love to someone in a practical way this week?
Praying for us. We are all works in progress.
You are loved.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
The Devotional Guy™ 