
Known as the ālove chapter,ā we see here how God desires us to live. That has been our focus over the past week. What a powerful passage to bring this theme to a conclusion. We know we are to love God and love others. But what is love? These verses beautifully showcase what love is as well as what it is not.
Paul uses actions words to describe love; itās patient and kind. Love is not merely a feeling at all. When we love someone else, we exhibit patience and kindness towards them. If you struggle at times, it might help to think about the patience and kindness God has extended to you. Itās hard to say we love someone if weāre mean to them. Our love will be tested by circumstance, but even in the hard times love will prevail in the ways described here.
Interesting that we read more about what love is not. āLove is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.ā When we imagine what our love for others looks like to the onlooker, do we see any of these traits? I love the last line of this so much, love āendures through every circumstance.ā I have clung to that truth many times. Life happens to us all. Iām so glad love never gives up!
But what about love not being irritable? Iām not sure this means I canāt or wonāt be irritable (because I can be at times). Rather, when we find ourselves in a grumpy, irritable mood, that doesnāt (or shouldnāt) change the fact we love or that love is present. Weāre the irritable ones in that moment, not our love. Think about how much you love your child despite them making you cranky with their behavior. God loves us that deeply, too, even when heās disappointed in us.
Most of the weddings Iāve attended over the years included a reading of this passage. A marriage relationship is a good place to start practicing ālove.ā But our ability to love and call to love others extends so much farther than our spouses.
How about you? Do you have a hard time ālovingā up to these standards? Take a moment to think about your most intimate relationships (spouse, children, family). We even stumble at times with those closest to us. We shouldnāt beat ourselves up; we can only do better next time.
I suggest looking at relationships outside our inner circle. Are we being loving toward others? Do they feel loved? Are we presenting ourselves as lovable so that others can love us? I love how this passage ends. āThree things will last foreverāfaith, hope, and loveāand the greatest of these is love.ā This is so in alignment with how God desires that we live.
God desires only the best for his children. Weāve seen examples of that over the past few days. Do you feel empowered with clarity on how you want to live your life? There are plenty of other passages that speak to Godās vision for us.
I stumbled upon one just the other day in Romans 12:12. āRejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.ā While itās not necessarily about ālove,ā there are some good reminders here. Again, being patient pops up. Patience, youāll remember, is one of the fruits of the spirit that we can experience by having Godās Spirit inside us. God doesnāt desire the unattainable for us. He even gives us the power we need! Rejoice in that and be lovable today!

Letās pray. Father, thank you for how much you love me. Help me to focus on your great example when I have a hard time loving others. You love them and so should I. May I continue to reflect on this wisdom about love and what it should or shouldnāt look like. May my love and devotion to you grow strong. I long to grow even closer to you. In Jesusā name. Amen.