1 Corinthians 13 is known as the chapter of love.
Verse 13 says: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
We also know from Matthew 22 that the two greatest commandments deal with love.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37-39 NIV
As Christians, we know that we are to show the love of Christ. This is often difficult to do because we have such a skewed vision of what real love is. How do we know what real love looks like?
Allow me to re-word the following verses just a bit. I'm not usually one to take such liberties with Scripture but stick with me for a moment. I'm going to exchange myself with love. Where you would normally see the word "love", you will now see a reference to myself.
I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere.
Friends, I believe that is how we love. We place ourselves right in the midst of the very Scripture that describes love.
Can these things be said of you? I know that I fail miserably at many of them much of the time but my God never does. His love is perfect, just as love is described in this scripture. May I daily strive to love others the way He loves me.
Photo by Tom Kooning – Fotolia.com
**************************************************************************************************************
Heather can also be found Running From The Little People and trying to go From Grey To Green.
Loading ...
I keep this verse posted in my office and in my house. I make sure to read it every day and try to live it to the fullest!
Since some people learn better by hearing than by reading, here's both:
http://www.biblereadeez.com/love-is-patient-and-kind
I so appreciate this way of looking at Scripture! Sometimes I put "Jesus" in place of "love" and it reminds me of what He is like. That always encourages and challenges me!