I am not a fan of cliches. In fact, they give me the heebie-jeebies (as did spelling heebie-jeebies).
So, when people start pulling out 1 Corinthians 13 around Valentine’s Day my sinful flesh does an internal (yet sassy) eye roll.
P.S. Don’t forget to watch our epic trailer video for this issue!
But! I am here to say that I am not being cliche because 1.) the Bible just can’t be cliche, and 2.) there’s a bigger idea here.
God’s love changed my life. Like, radically altered it. I, for perhaps the first time of my life, got a glimpse of the “breadth and length and height and depth” (see Ephesians 3:16-19) of God’s love. I can hardly even explain how insane the experience was (If you’re interested, I’ll be sharing the story at our very first ever Oh Beloved One event!!)
God’s love NEVER. FAILS. Never! All other love WILL fail. The people you love the most in life will fail you the most because such is life. We’re all fallen, we’re all fallible.
So, all that to say, we’re diving into 1 Corinthians 13 for the rest of the month of February. I’ll be taking 4 or 5 of the characteristics of love and fleshing them out. Feel free to bookmark this post and come back to it! Read one a day as a mini devotion along with your usual devotions.
Love is patient.
Ooh. I’m the least patient person on the face of the planet. This list is already going badly for me.
Define it: Did you know the KJV translates this as “suffereth long”? Yeah, I’m right there with you, buddy. This evokes the idea of having a long-fuse; of not retaliating even when you have the power to do so; to go beyond the point of waiting; and to patiently endure.
How God does it: Just read the OT! God gave His people hundreds of years to repent and turn back to Him before finally judging them.
But it’s not just: Mentally screaming, but keeping your cool on the outside; having a chill personality naturally (Like you just don’t care—what’s your secret, btw? I need that in my life.).
Love is kind.
Define it: Having a passion for being useful (“See a need, fill a need.” — That random Robots movie I watched as a kid); active in serving; pleasant; providing something useful; reliable.
How God does it: Every time God saves someone. Every time God looks at us and forgives our since. Every time God gives us things we don’t deserve.
But it’s not just: Manipulating circumstances so the person will owe you something. Being a people pleaser so you get the recognition you need.
Love does not envy or boast; is not arrogant.
Define it: Envying is boiling, seething, being mad at someone else’s success. Boasting is bragging, parading, and flaunting. Being arrogant has the idea of puffing, inflating, or swelling.
God’s thoughts: Envy is cruel and carnal. It causes confusion and evil works. It’s what made the Jews contradict Paul. Boasting and arrogance bring us low; God will actually resist us for these.
But it’s not just: Not healthy. Something we need to kind of monitor. This is being okay with having little love for the person whom were envying. It says to God, “You haven’t delivered in my own life.” It’s measuring God’s love by standards we’ve defined.
Love is not rude. It does not insist on its own way.
Define it: The word used for “rude” has the idea of being misshapen, indecent, disgraceful, shameful, and offensive. Not someone you’d want to show up for petit fours, huh? It’s calling undue attention to yourself or just being obnoxious and improper. Insisting on your own way is an obsession with, keeping track of passionately, and insisting or demanding things go your way.
God’s thoughts: The command second only to loving God is loving others. Take notes! God says in Philippians 2:19-21 that unbelievers seek their own . . . eek. This is how we’re acting!
Ultimately, it’s: ME. ME. ME. I need attention, I won’t give anyone my time or resources. I won’t give up my goals or yield to authority.
So, based on God’s Word, this is just a TASTE of what true love is. Make sure you’re subscribed to the blog so you get updates when we post the next installment of this series!
