Something pretty cool happened to me the other night and I feel compelled to get it off my heart and out to the world.
It was Sunday night and I was bored. I had a thought to go through some old items I had in my closet, to clean and get rid of some things, something i’ve been putting off for some time. I began going through some old shoe boxes with miscellaneous items and I found a note. This note was from a loved one and was about 7 years old sitting in the box in perfect condition. The note had a Bible verse written on it.
I immediately wanted to know what the verse was so I grabbed my Bible and flipped to the page. The verse was 1 Corinthians 13. I read the verse and it really spoke to me in the moment. My heart felt touched and I will explain why.
1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I posses to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 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 preservers. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13
Clearly this verse is speaking about Love. What is Love?
Love is an unselfish act towards others. Love has no desires and no needs. A deep, intense feeling that dissolves boundaries and separation. Love is strong. Love is truth.
Everyone has unique talents, gifts and abilities but every human possesses the gift of Love inside them. It is exactly that, the choice of Love that will make our actions and gifts useful in this world. You can choose to bring the Love inside of you out. Or you can keep it surpassed. The first part of this verse says you can do anything and everything in this world but if you do not have Love then you are nothing and you gain nothing.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
Have I been leading a life of patience? Of kindness? Have I been envious of others lives or works? Have I been proud of my own works?
In my mind these are important questions to ask ourselves.
“It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
Love does not shame, speak down on or disgrace others. Have I been quick to judge others lately?
It is not self-seeking. In today’s world we are constantly under the bombardment of thoughts in which how we will advance our careers, how we will line our pockets, how can we attain this new shiny item? This isn’t to say we cannot enjoy wealth or material. But are you placing energy on others lives and how you can impact them with Love or are you seeking only how you can reach pleasure for yourself?
Love is not easily angered. Have I been quick to become irritable or angry lately? This can stem from wanting to control things, wanting things to happen according to your plan or in better terms, a lack of faith.
It keeps no record of wrongs. Am I holding things against others due to past happenings? Who can I forgive?
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
Now this is strong. Love rejoices in the truth. What I take from this part of the verse is that when you lead a life of honesty, you’re leading with Love. And being honest all the time is challenging. Because sometimes the truth can wound, sometimes the truth is intimidating. But Love rejoices in truth it does not delight in evil.
Love is not weak. Love does not rollover or get trampled on.
“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers. Love never fails.”
These all circle back to qualities of strength. When you’re going through life, experiencing the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, do you maintain your trust? Your hope? Do you persevere? If you do then you will never fail. Because if you ARE these qualities then you are Love and Love never fails.
Everything in this world will come to an end and die. It takes a strong and courageous individual to live a life lead by Love. Often times it takes being the “bigger” person and that’s difficult. But worth it.
Who can you serve today? Who can you show patience to? Who can you uplift? Who can you forgive? Who can you tell the truth? But most importantly, who can you Love?
40A.
