Day 26

His message is that to be effective, the exercise of spiritual gifts is to be motivated and lubricated by love.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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. Love never fails.”  —1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8

In all of literature, there is probably not a more profound description of love than this. When Paul writes this passage, he is not setting out to write a thesis on love. He is writing about spiritual gifts. His message is that to be effective, the exercise of spiritual gifts is to be motivated and lubricated by love. It is a great passage to read at weddings, but it is so much deeper than romantic love. It is the outlook and quality of life of those living in dependence on God.

I would suggest three ways to read this passage. First, just read it as it stands, a wonderful description of love. Secondly, read it again, but replace the word ‘love’ with the name ‘Jesus Christ’, and see if it makes sense.

 “Jesus Christ is patient. Jesus Christ is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. 

He is not rude, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus Christ does not delight in evil but He rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus Christ never fails.”

What does that tell us about Jesus?  That He is the embodiment of love. Thirdly, read it again, preferably alone, replacing the word ‘love’ with your own name and see if it makes sense.  

“I am … patient. I am … kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but I rejoice with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere. I never fail.”

Oh dear! That is a discouraging read! But it expresses God’s ambition for each one of us, which is to express in us the character of his Son, who is the embodiment of love. We can never achieve that, but as we walk humbly with Him in dependence on Him, and love for Him, He will be increasingly producing that quality in us.