1 Corinthians 13

We've all read 1 Corinthians 13.  It was most likely somewhere in your wedding ceremony.  It is the popular verse from the Bible that is written on anniversary cards, Valentine's cards ... you see it everywhere.  I ran across it this morning in a facebook post.  It made me start thinking.  Not about the love part itself.  Loving is easy.  What I began thinking about is the "it keeps no record of wrongs" part.  Ouch!  That, my friend, is NOT easy.  Let me tell you that each of us are really self-centered persons.  We are more concerned with ourselves. I've come to the conclusion that the root of ALL sin is nothing more than PRIDE.  Our pride keeps us from truly loving, and it also keeps us from letting go of the wrongs against us.  If I am to love as Christ loved me, then I must DIE to that pride - daily, almost second by second.  As prideful human beings, it is hard to do each of the things on this "to do list" of love.  The way we can, however, is to submit daily to Christ.  We must humble ourselves.  We must die to ourselves.  Luke 9:23 tells us to deny ourselves and take up Christ's cross DAILY and follow him.  If we practice that, we will move that innate pride out of the way.  We will better be able to love the way that we are supposed to, the way God designed us to.  I'm learning each and every day and trying to put this into practice in my own life.  How about you?

If I give all I possess ... but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 

1 Corinthians 13:3-8 NIV

If I give everything ... but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies.

1 Corinthians 13:3-8 MSG