Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy, it doesn’t brag, is not proud, 1 Corinthians 13:4 WEB
Paul’s message in chapter thirteen of his first letter to the Corinthians is beautiful and stark. God requires love in all that we do. Earlier in his letter, Paul addressed divisions among church members in Corinth. Apparently, the members of the church struggled to emulate the love of the Lord. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:18, “For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. WEB”
The tension in the early church certainly arose from common human failings; pride, jealousy, petty rivalries. To address these issues, Paul emphasized the importance of demonstrating love in all we do. Jesus commands love. We read the Lord’s words in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. WEB”
Without love, it is impossible to follow the commandments of God. When asked to reveal the most important commandment Christ gave two and each requires love. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. WEB”
Love Is Kind
And so, to explain what God requires of his faithful Paul wrote, “love is patient, love is kind.” Ultimately, God is love. As we read in 1 John 4:7-8, “Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. WEB”
For the benefit of their eternal souls, Paul urged the Corinthians to understand the importance of demonstrating love in their interactions with one another. As he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:2, “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. WEB”
Prayer: “Father God, your love is patient and perfect. Guide me by the power of your Holy Spirit. Help me to love like you. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: The Good News of Jesus
