Patient and kind, not envious or boastful; not arrogant or rude. It doesn’t insist on its own way; it’s not irritable or resentful; it doesn’t rejoice at sin, only the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (from I Cor. 13)

This great passage from the “love chapter” of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians defines it in amplification of what Christ would have taught. Popular at weddings, but with a farther-reaching effect.

Forrest Gump, who along with Charlie Brown are my fictional heroes, tells the love of his life Jenny that even though he is not a smart man, he knows what love is. It is crazy, foolish, setting itself up to be tortured and hurt.

But even the beautiful words of Paul and the assertion of Forrest sometimes lose their impact. Just words, they are. To give them more weight, I read about a humbling exercise. Take I Corinthians 13, and insert your name for every time the word love appears; for example: “Arthur is patient and kind”, etc. You realize quickly what a liar you are! We all fail, fall short, with our pathetic, self-serving attempts. The challenge is to make these words, or any guidance from Scripture, central to our being, our daily walk with God.  

If you are daily governed by the practice of checkoffs, “laundry lists”, or “bullet” statements, then this Bible chapter, along with Galatians 5 and Matthew 5, could be helpful. Like the data on your Fitbit, your grocery list, the iPhone calendar reminders, those strings of adjectives can keep you focused on what is essential. Otherwise, we may go inwardly deaf from our gong-beating, cymbal-crashing cacophony of self-deception. We are nothing without love, so thanks be to God for bestowing grace upon grace, forgiveness, mercy, and unconditional love.

            He is all-wise, and He knows what love is.

Pastor Art