Valentine’s Day is a day when people’s minds turn to love. And they will express it in cards, flowers and candy. And it can be a fun day, but what do we really mean when we say we love someone? That question is answered in a lot of different ways because there are a lot of ideas as to what real love is all about. The Apostle Paul was working with a church some 2,000 years ago and they were struggling with the relationships they had with each
other. They were talented and motivated people…but were seemingly short on understanding rea love. So, in that letter (1 Corinthians 13) he devoted a chapter to what love really is…from God’s perspective. And since the Bible claims that God not only loves, but is the embodiment of love, it is worth us studying. The part I like best in those short, thirteen verses starts in verse four. He tells us that love is patient and kind. Right there is a game changer for a lot of us. Our society is short on both patience and kindness. And in his description of love Paul changes immediately to what love is not. It is not jealous, boastful, proud, rude, demanding its own way, not irritable and it keeps no record of being wronged. Given that list of what love is not…it doesn’t seem like there is a lot of love going on in our world! Love, real love, is self-sacrificing. It takes the heat from another and returns kindness and patience. And the thing about real love is that it will press on, never giving up, never losing faith and is continually hopeful and will be willing to endure through every circumstance. And where can you always find this kind of love? We find it in this Jesus of the Bible who loved us, does love us and will continue to love us all the days of our journey here on earth. So, take time to love people with this kind of love that comes from the heart of God. It will be good for everyone you give it to…and your loving will always be good for your heart too. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud (5) or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. (6) It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. (7) Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
other. They were talented and motivated people…but were seemingly short on understanding rea love. So, in that letter (1 Corinthians 13) he devoted a chapter to what love really is…from God’s perspective. And since the Bible claims that God not only loves, but is the embodiment of love, it is worth us studying. The part I like best in those short, thirteen verses starts in verse four. He tells us that love is patient and kind. Right there is a game changer for a lot of us. Our society is short on both patience and kindness. And in his description of love Paul changes immediately to what love is not. It is not jealous, boastful, proud, rude, demanding its own way, not irritable and it keeps no record of being wronged. Given that list of what love is not…it doesn’t seem like there is a lot of love going on in our world! Love, real love, is self-sacrificing. It takes the heat from another and returns kindness and patience. And the thing about real love is that it will press on, never giving up, never losing faith and is continually hopeful and will be willing to endure through every circumstance. And where can you always find this kind of love? We find it in this Jesus of the Bible who loved us, does love us and will continue to love us all the days of our journey here on earth. So, take time to love people with this kind of love that comes from the heart of God. It will be good for everyone you give it to…and your loving will always be good for your heart too. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud (5) or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. (6) It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. (7) Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ