We all at one point read the in the bible, heard it during weddings as vows, mentioned by a friend, however you learned or heard of it 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 resonates in everyone’s heart no matter a believer or not. If you haven’t yet encountered these verses or are an unbeliever not wanting to do anything with the bible but for some reason are reading this post here it is for you to read and for many others a refresher of God’s love for us and an example to lead our lives by it;
1 Corinthians 13 (NKJV)
The Greatest Gift
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [b]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is [d]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Footnotes
a.1 Corinthians 13:3 NU so I may boast
b.1 Corinthians 13:4 arrogant
c.1 Corinthians 13:5 keeps no accounts of evil
d.1 Corinthians 13:10 complete
When I was 14 years old, living in a family atmosphere of chaos, anger, spiritual discord and much more, I desperately wanted to learn what love really looked like. I watched sitcoms on tv, movies, read books, Walt Disney movies and books. Some of the Walt Disney movies and books I read religiously were Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven dwarfs, and Sleeping Beauty. These stories always left me disappointed when I dealt with the real world. All these different streams of books, tv, movies about life, love and challenges we can experience in life left me in limbo and confused about the meaning of love. It taught me that it was normal to live in a world and family life of chaos, anger, spiritual discord and much more. By grade nine I was in turmoil from within. I did not feel safe within the confines of my family life, within our own home. I always felt safer outside of it. I always would leave my home, go deep into the forest or go to my best friend’s home or hangout with a group of friends till it was time to go home to eat or even a night without having eaten. Sometimes I just would stay at my best friend’s house to eat lunch or supper with her family and siblings, and occasionally sleep over. I would call her parents mom and dad. Her parents received me with love and acceptance just the way I was. They listened to me and never judged me. Her parents encouraged me to speak, to be and to love myself as I was. it was comforting for me to know that within a family setting I could freely be. How sad was this that anywhere else felt safer than in my own family home with my parents and siblings at that point in time in my life. This way of thinking and living lasted a very long time in my life right into adulthood and having children.
Let me take you back to grade nine again, a lovely teacher somehow recognized something in me that was missing. She saw that I hungered for something. She soon started talking to me about God and His word. She somehow understood I was searching for the meaning of love. She shared with me 1 Corinthians 13. This chapter in Corinthians jolted me. I believe the Holy Spirit spoke through her so that I could be comforted and taught that God is real and that He loved me. This teacher’s love and patience towards me started a journey to desiring this type of love in my life. I soon learned it was not going to be an easy journey. My journey to receive and give love led to many disappointments and almost lost my life to it. It took me from age 14 to now 55 to finally comprehend what love looks like. To finally see, hear and learn from God what it means to love. However, because I am not always good at conveying what love means and that I had to go through a lot of undoing of preconceived ideas of it learned through movies, tv and books I am still not the best at teaching this. Why am I not still good at teaching what love looks like because I am still falling flat on my face with it. I still am sinning just like you, you, and you and everyone in this world that struggles with the word “love” and its meaning. So how do I reconcile with what “love” means? How do I thrive to live the word “love” not only for myself but for everyone in my life, family, friends, and all the people that cross my path? Practice, that is how I reconcile what “love” means. Practice choosing God first, choosing to love God every morning when I wake up. To first, “Mark 12:30 (NKJV) 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. ” And the second, “Mark 12:31 (NKJV) 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” However, I am a sinner and have difficulties to always adhere to these two “commandments”. I am sure you are struggling with it too. We “all”, that includes me, fall short of God’s love for us and His will for us. Everyday though I strive to live these commandments. Eventually it will get easier to love as God loves, to live the two commandments as a way of life towards my children, my family, friends and strangers. Yes, strangers so many are like you, and I just want to be loved. Look around you, really look and you will see in their faces that many are hurting emotionally, financially, physically and much more. All they want to learn and hear is that they are loved. Stay with me, I know this post is long but to finish off this post here is a little story about extending love to a stranger that I experienced. Here it is;
I arrived at the lights and while waiting for the lights to turn green an Asian homeless lady was going from car to car asking for money. I never carry money, who does really with all the credit cards and debit cards at our disposal. However, I carry little booklets about salvation through Jesus and pamphlets with messages from God’s word. At that very moment as she was making her way to my car, I heard God’s subtle voice to give her the pamphlet that said, “Jesus loves you” in capital letters along with writing as to why Yeshua (Jesus) loves us. As soon as the lady came to my window, I opened it to her and with lots of love for her I gave her the pamphlet. I apologized for not having money to give her. She accepted my pamphlet. I watched her stop right there, not going to the next car but reading the pamphlet. She sat on the rail and kept on reading then looking to the sky, reading again, and looking to the sky. I looked at her face and my heart filled up with tears for her, tears that Yeshua had pierced through her heart. I never saw her again as those traffic lights are just a corner away from my home.
Choose love, not the world’s love, but God’s love. That love comes through His son Yeshua.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
What are you waiting for? God is waiting for you! He wants a relationship with you. He wants to communicate with you. His word (bible) is a love letter to you, His knowledge, His wisdom, His justice for you, God is all and everything for you! Let His “LOVE” fill your heart, to nourish your soul and spirit and never feel lonely again because you will have God with you. Be assured because God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He sustained them, loved them, and led them. Through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He showed not only His sovereignty in their lives but also a true example of a fatherly love that wants nothing but the best for you and bless you with the best in life.
