Taken from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13, Paul explains what God meant for people to learn about LOVE. Loving others is the greatest commandment (1 Cor. 13:13). So, what does this kind of godly love look like?
LOVE is PATIENT – ability to endure pain without complaint; persevering, continuous in spite of difficulty; ability to tolerate weaknesses in others with a good attitude.
LOVE is KIND – to be gentle, generous, considerate, helpful, humane; having a friendly, sympathetic and warm-hearted nature; considering other people’s feelings.
LOVE does NOT envy – is not discontent or ill-willed over another’s advantages; does not show jealousy, resentment, or bitterness because of what someone else possesses.
LOVE does NOT boast – refrains from talking with too much pride or self-satisfaction; does not brag, gloat, exaggerate or overstate anything about oneself.
LOVE is NOT proud – is not haughty or prideful or feeling that you are more important or better than others; not arrogant, insolent, stubborn, cynical or insensitive to the needs of others; would never shift ultimate confidence from God to self. Pride does not seek God and instead brings disgrace and breeds quarrels.
LOVE is NOT rude – is not crude, impolite, acts unbecomingly or inappropriately; does not belittle others or seek to cause problems since rudeness is rooted in selfishness; ill-mannered person who is rude is communicating that “it’s all about me!” This is NOT LOVE!
LOVE is NOT self-seeking – does not seek to further one’s own interests and does not insist in its own way; love is not self-focused.
LOVE is NOT easily angered – is not hostile, furious or outraged; is not someone with a short fuse who becomes angry easily because this is not showing love. LOVE puts the brakes on anger and does not sin in anger.
LOVE keeps no record of wrongs – pays no attention to a suffered wrong; LOVE forgives whatever grievances you may have against one another.
LOVE does NOT delight in evil but rejoices with the truth – does not rejoice at wrongdoing; does not gloat over someone else’s guilt. True LOVE rejoices in what is right and good. LOVE does NOT sweep sin under the rug nor find a way to get away with bad behavior, but instead it treasures truth, celebrates good behavior, and promotes virtue. True LOVE has nothing to hide.
LOVE always PROTECTS, TRUSTS, HOPES, and PERSEVERES – shields from harm, believes, hopes, trusts, expects, continues in spite of difficulty.
LOVE never fails – it never quits, bails out, or ends and instead always succeeds!
CHRISTIAN LOVE involves choosing appropriate actions and responses that help other people. LOVE is mannerly and is concerned for the other person’s wellbeing. A life of LOVE is shown in our words and actions, and will impact others to bring glory to the Lord. The focus of love is not one’s own pain, but the needs of others. To exhibit God’s kind of LOVE, we must have God’s perspective on sin and righteousness.
MARRIAGE is an irrevocable commitment to an imperfect person where grace abounds forever. Learn to speak blessings over your partner. In a marriage, each person should seek to reach a M.A.T.U.R.E. LOVE!
M = MOTIVATED
A = ATTENTIVE
T = TENDER
U = UNDERSTANDING
R = RESPECTFUL
E = EXCITEMENT
(this acrostic/teaching was suggested by Dr. Ed Young from Winning Walk Ministries)
LOVE IS THE GREATEST GIFT THAT GOD GIVES! God demonstrated His love for all mankind by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for their sins. Whoever believes in this, accepts Jesus as Savior, will be forgiven and saved from eternal death. (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10).
What is very reassuring is that everything that God calls us to do (how to LOVE like He does), He gives us the power to do it. God says in Deuteronomy 30:11 that “what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.” God gives us everything we need to obey Him and learn to love just like He does.
Thank you, Lord, for teaching us about TRUE, GENUINE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and giving us the power to love this way! God is so so good!
LOVE is PATIENT – ability to endure pain without complaint; persevering, continuous in spite of difficulty; ability to tolerate weaknesses in others with a good attitude.
LOVE is KIND – to be gentle, generous, considerate, helpful, humane; having a friendly, sympathetic and warm-hearted nature; considering other people’s feelings.
LOVE does NOT envy – is not discontent or ill-willed over another’s advantages; does not show jealousy, resentment, or bitterness because of what someone else possesses.
LOVE does NOT boast – refrains from talking with too much pride or self-satisfaction; does not brag, gloat, exaggerate or overstate anything about oneself.
LOVE is NOT proud – is not haughty or prideful or feeling that you are more important or better than others; not arrogant, insolent, stubborn, cynical or insensitive to the needs of others; would never shift ultimate confidence from God to self. Pride does not seek God and instead brings disgrace and breeds quarrels.
LOVE is NOT rude – is not crude, impolite, acts unbecomingly or inappropriately; does not belittle others or seek to cause problems since rudeness is rooted in selfishness; ill-mannered person who is rude is communicating that “it’s all about me!” This is NOT LOVE!
LOVE is NOT self-seeking – does not seek to further one’s own interests and does not insist in its own way; love is not self-focused.
LOVE is NOT easily angered – is not hostile, furious or outraged; is not someone with a short fuse who becomes angry easily because this is not showing love. LOVE puts the brakes on anger and does not sin in anger.
LOVE keeps no record of wrongs – pays no attention to a suffered wrong; LOVE forgives whatever grievances you may have against one another.
LOVE does NOT delight in evil but rejoices with the truth – does not rejoice at wrongdoing; does not gloat over someone else’s guilt. True LOVE rejoices in what is right and good. LOVE does NOT sweep sin under the rug nor find a way to get away with bad behavior, but instead it treasures truth, celebrates good behavior, and promotes virtue. True LOVE has nothing to hide.
LOVE always PROTECTS, TRUSTS, HOPES, and PERSEVERES – shields from harm, believes, hopes, trusts, expects, continues in spite of difficulty.
LOVE never fails – it never quits, bails out, or ends and instead always succeeds!
CHRISTIAN LOVE involves choosing appropriate actions and responses that help other people. LOVE is mannerly and is concerned for the other person’s wellbeing. A life of LOVE is shown in our words and actions, and will impact others to bring glory to the Lord. The focus of love is not one’s own pain, but the needs of others. To exhibit God’s kind of LOVE, we must have God’s perspective on sin and righteousness.
MARRIAGE is an irrevocable commitment to an imperfect person where grace abounds forever. Learn to speak blessings over your partner. In a marriage, each person should seek to reach a M.A.T.U.R.E. LOVE!
M = MOTIVATED
A = ATTENTIVE
T = TENDER
U = UNDERSTANDING
R = RESPECTFUL
E = EXCITEMENT
(this acrostic/teaching was suggested by Dr. Ed Young from Winning Walk Ministries)
LOVE IS THE GREATEST GIFT THAT GOD GIVES! God demonstrated His love for all mankind by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for their sins. Whoever believes in this, accepts Jesus as Savior, will be forgiven and saved from eternal death. (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10).
What is very reassuring is that everything that God calls us to do (how to LOVE like He does), He gives us the power to do it. God says in Deuteronomy 30:11 that “what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.” God gives us everything we need to obey Him and learn to love just like He does.
Thank you, Lord, for teaching us about TRUE, GENUINE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and giving us the power to love this way! God is so so good!