A Necessary Call to Greater Love
“Love is not irritable…” Oof. Years ago I memorized “the love passage” in 1 Corinthians 13 and the words flooded my mind as I looked around my messy living room.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…” - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
After days of crazy Oklahoma weather that led to ever-changing plans, unmet expectations, and exhaustion, I was irritable. Everyone and everything seemed to get under my skin and I could sense frustration building.
At that moment, the words of 1 Corinthians 13 didn’t feel like the pretty picture that is so often read at weddings. It didn’t feel like a gentle reminder of how much God loves us (even though He does). Instead, it felt like conviction: a necessary call to a greater love than my flesh was currently displaying.
The truth is while we live here on Earth and battle our flesh, we will constantly fall short of perfect “Agape” love. We will have moments of impatience, irritability, and arrogance. But, we also have a Savior who has already done the work of forgiveness and reconciliation and wants us to pursue perfect love.
Here are a few insights into how we can live out 1 Corinthians 13 even in the middle of the longest and hardest days.
Love…
Is patient and kind
True Agape love involves waiting on the Lord and working for the good of others. His timeline is always better. When we display patience and treat others with kindness, we combat the lie that love is doing what’s best for self, no matter the cost to others.Does not envy or boast
Looking at others enviously and/or boasting about strengths reveals a prideful heart; one that loves self more than others. Instead, truly loving others means we humble ourselves and view others as God views them–worthy of our love, service, and attention.Is not arrogant or rude
When we become convinced we are somehow superior to people around us, we set love by the wayside and instead bear arrogance, pride, and selfishness. On the other hand, God “humbled Himself” and modeled what it is to “consider others more significant than ourselves.”Does not insist on its own way
Love willingly submits to the will of the Father. This involves laying aside plans, expectations, and preferences in favor of the Spirit's promptings and the needs of others. There is joy to be found in this willing surrender.Is not irritable or resentful
Quick tempers, snappy remarks, and/or grumpy demeanors ultimately reveal a self-focused heart. When we are easily annoyed or assume the worst of others, we miss opportunities to love like God. He loves us at our worst, and asks us to do the same.Does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth
Love doesn’t celebrate sin, either in your own life or the lives of others. Instead, truth and love go hand and hand. If we love like Jesus, we will both speak and live out the truth with kindness.Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
Love keeps going. It doesn’t stop hoping and trusting in the Lord's ability to sanctify and redeem sinners. This involves praying for those around us, speaking truth, and living out the Gospel because Jesus Christ gave Himself for us. Persevere and keep your eyes Heavenward.Never ends
God’s love for us is steadfast, eternal, and never-ending. It is not dependent on who we are or what we do, but on who He is and what He did for us. In the same way, we must love others with an unfailing love because of who God says they are.
During those long days, I had a choice to make: I could allow frustration and anger to build, or I could surrender and pursue perfect love by yielding to the Spirit.
What about you? Will you submit to the Spirit and choose to love as Christ loves us even on your hardest days?
Originally published on QSBC Women.
