This past Sunday, the pastor was preaching about what love is and is not, based on 1 Corinthians 13.
He did mention the typical romantic love or the kind that’s easy to give when everything’s going well. However, his emphasis was on real love–the kind that reflects the heart of Jesus.
It was towards the end of the sermon when he read verses 4 through 7:
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.
He paused for a bit, then asked us, “Do you show love to people?”
He read the passage again—but this time, he replaced the word love with I.
I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I do not dishonor others, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere.
I’ve read the verses many times before, but I’ve never read them like that. Just like that, the verses became a mirror that I dared to look at.
We are human, but we are called to be like Jesus. Not just on Sundays or when it’s convenient, but all the time. That’s not easy. It’s not natural. But it’s what we’re here for. To be the light in this dark world. To reflect the kind of love that doesn’t come from us but flows through us when we stay close to Him.
Song I thought of is called “Love, Love, Love” by Sidewalk Prophets
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