“Love is long-suffering…”
Does long-suffering characterize my attitude toward my husband? Do I bear his faults patiently? Do I try to look beyond them and see his positive attributes instead?
“Love is kind…”
Do I smile at him? Do I use a kind tone? Do I pick up his shirt and pants off the floor just because it’s the kind thing to do? Do I look for ways to demonstrate friendship?
“Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…”
Do I clamor to prove my own worth or do I try to elevate his? Do I brag on him? Do I gloat when I’m right and he’s wrong?
“Love does not insist on its own way…”
Ouch.
“Love is not irritable or resentful…”
Ouch again.
“Love never fails…”
Never. Strong word. Do I love my husband with an unfailing kind of determination?
I am not able, in my own power, to love like this. But praise God that He offers us HIS power and strength and will be faithful to enable us to obey the True Love command.
11 comments
I enjoyed this. Love is an action word!
It is impossible for me to love like this unless He does it through me. Thank you for the reminders of the specifics. It’s so easy to not be careful enough about taking every thought captive.
Hey Sis,
At an Elder meeting a few weeks back, we mostly just prayed together. At the end we took this scripture (The bulk of Cor 13) and took turns reading it aloud to one another replacing the word “LOVE” with our own names. I went first and got halfway through and then had to stop and tell the guys I felt like a liar. Very powerful exercise. We were all in tears, just had to pray some more. Paul is setting a very high and un-attainable goal here for us to be like Christ and to show ultimate love. Very powerful, I’m going to do the same with my family soon!
….I should add- What I mean is that Paul setting this mark so high is the point. Of course we can not attain it, but it is a mirror that shows our need for His sanctification.
Wow, how powerful. Think we’ll do that tonight as a family!
Love this post.
Love the name exercise too. I love how the commands of the Bible constantly reveal our complete dependency on Him and our complete lack of ability within ourselves.
Inspiring words! Love reading your posts.
I just popped in to wish you and your family a very happy Valentine’s Day! I hope your day is filled with love and joy!
Awww..thank you–and love and joy back to your family!
My pastor spoke about these verses and said that they are often read at funerals and thought of for romantic love, but really, it’s agape love that these verses refer to. We can love our spouses as Christ loves the church. Agape love for our husbands. Romantic love is great, but agape love is complete.
Beautiful reminder.
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