Scripture Verses that Caught My Attention Today: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Observation: Paul [seemingly] forgot to mention that love is hard work!
Application: I think that when we read Paul’s words above we are most inclined to think of other people for whom we think they might better fit. I mean we start off well, channeling our inner fortitude to remember what love should be (patient and kind). But then when we read of what love is not (envious, boastful, arrogant, rude, insisting on it’s own way, etc.), well, it’s as if we block it out in regard to ourselves and personify a quote of Judas (Jesus’ betrayer) when he said, “surely not I?” In our place we picture others—whether in general or in particular—who appear to fall short of love’s demands. How convenient. And how telling.
One of the most haunting pieces of Scripture is found is Jesus’ response to the quote from Judas above. “You have said so” Jesus replied.
Yes, love is hard work!
Whenever we deny our envy, boastfulness, arrogance, rudeness, insistence on our own way and all the rest, well, then we have once again shown our delusional-but-true colors…and our incredible need for the crucified and risen One who indeed bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the love that you offer to us all. Surely we are in great need of it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: Numbers 24-27 and 1 Corinthians 13)
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