1 Corinthians 13 vs 4 - 8 is not only all-encompassing in what love is, but also in what it is not, and how to behave in love towards all, God's way.
I think the verses before vs 4 are also very important and profound, in that they tell us what is MOST important in our Christian walk:
1 Corinth 13 vs 1 - 3:
The Way of Love
(1) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
(2) And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
(3) If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
If you do not have love, your speaking in tongues, or prophetic prowess, knowledge and faith, and generosity, are all worthless in the eyes of God.
So, what then can you determine from these verses? Love, love, love! Love is what the Lord is after!
And what is this love that the Lord expects of us?
- (4) Love is patient and kind;
- love does not envy or boast;
- it is not arrogant
- (5) or rude.
- It does not insist on its own way;
- it is not irritable or resentful;
- (6) it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,
- but rejoices with the truth.
- (7) Love bears all things,
- believes all things,
- hopes all things,
- endures all things.
- (8) Love never ends....
This is what love is. Such a practical and direct definition and call to love, God's way. Chapter 13 vs 8(b) - 12 goes on to say that all the other gifts and abilities will pass away, but love never will.
And, the chapter ends on an awesome statement:
1 Corinth 13 vs 13: So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Let 2020 be a year when rediscover how to love others, not with the desire to have that love returned, but purely because Jesus requires it of us.
God bless
Tracy
Good post Tracy. God is love, it is the very essence of His being and without love no one can stand. Jesus said that in the end times the love of many people will grow cold. My prayer is, don't let it be me! Don't let it be us. You are loved Tracy!
ReplyDeleteHi Marja, thank you for your encouraging comment. Means a lot to me :)
DeleteGod bless
Loving the unlovable - that's the angst? Amen!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, thanks for the visit and commenting.
DeleteGod bless :)
I once wrote that on my tombstone I hope it only says, "she loved". Thats the legacy I want to leave. Visiting from the instaencouragements link up. laurensparks.net
ReplyDeleteHi Lauren, wow, that would be an awesome epitaph to have on one's tombstone! Thanks for the visit
DeleteGod bless :)
Thank you for these thought-provoking reminders, Tracy! I love your use of Scripture here. Bob Goff has some amazing books on loving people! It's difficult sometimes. Some days I just don't feel like loving anybody. I know that sounds bad, but it's the honest truth. Then, I have to stop and remind myself of the deep, deep love the Father has for each one of us, me included.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Hi Patsy, don't worry, there are some days I don't want to love anybody, including myself, either! :) Thank you for visiting.
DeleteGod bless
Tracy
Amen! And, love, God's way, marks us in this world as His children. Thanks for sharing. Many blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Boma, that is so true. Great point
DeleteGod bless
Thank you so much Tracy.
ReplyDeleteHi Aritha, so good to see you here :)
DeleteGod bless
Amen, God is love! Thank you for the reminder that the greatest of these is love. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Link-Up.
ReplyDeleteHi Maree Dee, thank you for visiting
DeleteGod bless
Tracy - I chose your post to feature this Friday which happens to be Valentines Day. How fitting is that. Great post.
DeleteHi Maree Dee, wow thank you, that is awesome. I am so encouraged by that! Thank you
DeleteGod bless
OK-is God trying to tell me something? Followed your post from over at Faith on Fire where Lyli just wrote on love being a superpower. Good timing! Sometimes I get weary of loving when I want to fight. With the Holy Spirit's help...I know I'm enabled to keep going. I would like to keep growing in this in 2020...
ReplyDeleteHi Amy, I agree with you, but I also believe we always are reaching for more, we will never be able to love like Jesus does, but we can keep trying and keep loving. Thank the Lord He is gracious and patient with us :)
DeleteGod bless, thanks for the visit
Thank you, Tracy, for encouraging me in that outward focus that is so characteristic of the love of God!
ReplyDeleteHi Michele, thank you for visiting and commenting. Truly, God's way of loving is very practical and visible.
DeleteGod bless
Thanks for reminding us on the importance of Love. Without it we are nothing. One goal. Love.
ReplyDeleteHi Theresa, yes, that is the goal. It truly is what the new testament boils down to, Christ's love for us, and us loving as He did and does.
DeleteGod bless, and thanks for the visit :)