Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;—1 Corinthians 13:4-8
These words from 1 Corinthians 13 always have the effect of blowing my pride out of the water, so to speak. They make me collapse on the inside because they confront me with my insufficiency. That, however, is such a good thing! I AM INSUFFICIENT! My God, thankfully, is not and He is my Helper.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.—2 Corinthians 9:8
To be a Christian is to first and foremost love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Love is the bond of perfection. Love is the debt that is always owed. It is the one thing “we” can do to fulfill the law completely. As believers, love for Christ must be the motivating force behind all that we do and all that we say.
It would be great if this kind of self-sacrificing love were our natural response toward others. Unfortunately, it is not. In fact, we don't even often have loving feelings toward those around us. Most of the time our thoughts are on how they can love us. Since their thoughts are probably on themselves also, we are at an impasse. Biblical love, however, is a command. Our response therefore, is a matter of obedience.
As was said earlier, in and of ourselves this kind of love is impossible. With God, however, all things are possible. When we believe, His love is poured out in our hearts by His Spirit who now dwells in us. It is ONLY by HIS love that we can love others as He loves us. Without His love we are nothing and can do nothing good.
If I feel myself going awry during the day, it is ALWAYS helpful for me to remember love...to pray and surrender what “I WANT” and allow the Spirit of God to do what I cannot - love the precious people around me with His love.
Beloved, by His Spirit love one another fervently; love never fails because love is of God. When we walk in love, we walk in His perfect will and shine like lights in a dark world. When we walk in love, we also walk effectively, not only temporally but also eternally. I love thinking on that. Loving others with God’s love has eternal consequences. God’s love reaches beyond this world and into eternity.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.—1 Corinthians 13:2
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.—Romans 13:8-10
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