4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].—1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMPLIFIED
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
I took these verses with me wherever I went yesterday taking every opportunity I had to meditate on them. I want these beautiful words of God to be emblazoned on my heart. I want my thoughts, words and actions to be marked by the sacrificial love of my God. I want my love for Christ to be the motivating force behind all that I do and all that I say. Beloved…meditate on each glorious word…let them take root in your heart and as you do pray that the Holy Spirit would do this work in your own life. 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.
Father…When I feel myself going awry during the day, help me to remember love…to pray and surrender what “I WANT” and allow Your Spirit to do what I cannot - love the precious people around me with Your perfect love which reaches beyond this world and into eternity.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.—Colossians 3:14
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman]. 9 The commandments, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and any other commandment are summed up in this statement: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor [it never hurts anyone]. Therefore [unselfish] love is the fulfillment of the Law.—Romans 13:8-10
17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.—Psalm 90:17
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