Love Is

BIBLE READING Col: 2:13-15 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

BLOG 1 COR 13: 4 - 7  4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Many people have used this passage as a definition of love.  I've never really seen it that way.  It seems to me to be an excellent description of what love should look like.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, whose behavior has been less than stellar.  It seems that he needs to clarify to them what love is (apparently they were quite self-absorbed.)

Love is patient - Love requires patience.  There are some people and situations that you have to wait through until love can do a miracle.
Love is kind - Courteous, not harsh, tender, to promote happiness around us.
Love does not envy - We do not compare ourselves to others and harbor ill will in our hearts because they have what we want.
Love does not boast, nor is arrogant - We do not brand ourselves as being superior to others with contempt or disregard for them.
Love isn't rude.  Love treats others better than they deserve regardless of their station in life.
Love doesn't bully - Do not "lord" over others forcing them to agree with you.
Love doesn't get irritated or become resentful.  This works with patience because some people will tempt you to reject them.
Love doesn't rejoice when someone sins.  We don't keep a "list" of everything they have done wrong.  Such lists are used to justify unloving behavior as needed.    
Love rejoices when the truth is told and practiced.  In a world that consistently lies, this one is rare.  But love can only operate in an atmosphere of honesty.
Love (bears up) or as Paul says in Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Love believes - Love can see what you can put your faith in.  When one operates without love, they are doomed to place their faith in things that give no hope.
Love hopes - Speaking of hope, love understands that the promises of God are always reliable.  We can place our future in His hands without worry.
Love endures - Probably one of the toughest parts of love.  Loving people can be difficult.  But love will go through the process to reach someone's hearts.  I know that all of us have poured our love into someone whose life seemed like a black hole. But if you will endure, you will eventually see fruit from the love you share with others.

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, help me to love others as You would like for me to love them.  AMEN