I have been thing a lot lately about Love… not just any type of Love but biblical, righteous, and true Love. I sat and thought and wrote down what I personally thought this true Love was. Come to find out, after reading 1 Corinthians 13, I was wrong in my way of thinking. So I sat down for two hours and picked apart 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. I read many versions that helped me along the way such as; KJV, ESV, The Message, and AMP versions, which you can click on and read too! Well the following is what I came up with, the M. Standard Version per-say…
“…The Way of Love…”
Love is charity, affection that combines good will with brotherly love. Love suffers long with understanding by patiently bearing the offenses and injuries of others, enduring with faith through misfortune and trouble, and by being slow to physical, or verbal, anger and punishment. Love is having a mild and gentle spirit about you that is considerate of the feelings of others and only wishes to be helpful, encouraging, and uplifting. Love does not have bitterness or resentment towards a person because they possess abilities, looks, or success that it may earnestly desire to obtain, nor does Love wish or desire to be zealously sought after in this way. Love does not want, crave, or demand self-display, self-exhalation, or to be placed on a pedestal, nor does Love boast or brag of it’s own life or future in order to gain kinship. Love does not carry itself in an arrogant, lofty, or proud manner and does not condescend upon others. Love does not conduct, act, or speak in an unattractive way causing its appearance, character, or reputation to be tarnished and stained; by being rude, unfair, perverse, unflattering, inappropriate, crude, inept, dis-credible, or ungodly. Love is not self-ambitious, self-gaining, or self-satisfying through devotion to its own interests, benefits, and welfare; but rather seeks to improve and advance the character and abilities of others. Love is not easily provoked, irritated, or antagonized by their environment or by the actions and speech of others, nor does it despise these things; but instead is quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger – always going to the Lord in prayer first. Love does not think or plot wicked, revengeful, or destructive concepts, nor does it count, number, or compute the injuries or troubles enacted upon it. Love does not praise or condone unrighteousness of the heart or of life, nor does it overlook deeds that violate the laws of justice. However, Love delights in and respects the purity of Truth and things appertaining to God and the duties of men; according to the moral and ethical standards set forth to follow which are found in the Word of God. Love bears, conceals, and protects all things through silence concerning the faults and errors of others which, if let out and told, would threaten the life and/or livelihood of that person. Love has full trust, commitment, and confidence in all things that abide in and are of God and His Word. Love hopes for all things, including people, by waiting and believing for salvation in the fullness of joy and confidence. Love endures all things, good and bad, by remaining steadfast in its faith and drawing near to God, not by fleeing or receding when trials and hardships come face-to-face. Love never falls away, falls down, or perishes… Love never fails.
That’s it, and it’s something I will be praying for to come to fruition in my life. I need to show Love like this and I know that I do not show it all the time, but I want to…
Thanks for reading and I hope you were as convicted and blessed as I was when I dove deep into this short passage for understanding and wisdom.
God Bless!
Lion 2 Lamb 