“…love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way …” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (ESV)
February is commonly known as the month of love, but it is sadly associated with materialistic gifts or romantic feelings, which can often pervert the true meaning of love. God has a deeper intent of love that transcends our ‘feelings.’
Paul, in his Corinthian letter, uses poetry to create symmetry between what love is and what it is not.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (ESV)
Read slowly, and you will see Paul juxtaposes what we must embrace and what we must resist. Our expression of love is a deep relation(ship) with God as well as with ourselves and others. This will require us to focus more on our actions and less on emotions.
Here is a snapshot from Paul for us to make a matter of prayer.
Pray today that God may examine your heart and remove those behaviours and actions that incapacitate your ability to love as God desires. Pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to us where we have been tempted by boasting, arrogance, selfishness, or other behaviours that stop us from cultivating a right relationship with God, ourselves, and others.
So now, let faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13 – ESV).
Read: John 13:34; Romans 15:1-2
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 21:8-13; Matthew 28; Exodus 15; Exodus 16
