4Love is patient,
- love is kind.
- It does not envy,
- it does not boast,
- it is not proud.
- 5 It does not dishonor others,
- it is not self-seeking,
- it is not easily angered,
- it keeps no record of wrongs.
- 6 Love does not delight in evil but
- rejoices with the truth.
- 7 It always protects,
- always trusts,
- always hopes,
- always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, The Message
Paul sets pretty high standards when he now tells us what love is. As I look at the list and reflect on my life, I know I have not lived all these qualities to those I cherish the most. I have falllen short. As I read down the list a second time I see that Paul says there are things that love is and there are things that love is not. Let’s narrow our vision today to the things love is.
Love is:
patient
kind
rejoices in truth
trusts
hopes
perseveres
Now pick just three of these qualities and give an example. For example, I appreciate it when someone is patient at a stop light and does not honk at me if I am a bit slow to put the pedal to the metal. Then form a prayer. Lord, help me be patient when …. We might even thank God when he is patient with me when I forget to ….
Pick three qualities that you’d like to speak with God about! Blessings.