Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV)
We’ve all heard this passage before pertaining to how we should love others, in weddings, and in that context. This is all fine and good, but this is my favorite passage because instead of how to love, I see it as instructions on how to live.
Patience, kindness, humility are some of the virtues of love found in the verses, but these are not qualities that just come naturally when you love someone. We all love our parents, but are we always patient and kind to them? Of course not. These are things that we have got to want and work for. Love, real love is a choice not a feeling. It’s a choice to act in a Christlike way towards others no matter how you feel.
Now read the passage again but in place of love substitute God. God is love. (1 John 4:8) Since God is love, all of the attributes listed in 1 Corinthians 13 are the characteristics of God. Now read the verses again with your name. How do you stack up? Are any of the traits true about you? If we strive to be more like God we will see ourselves becoming more like the description in 1 Corinthians each day.
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