And I invite you to jump in on the journey. If you are scared, jump! Just don't hold your breath (smile).
Most are familiar with 1 Corinthians 13v4-8... many times referred to as the "love verses" or "marriage scriptures"..But as we begin this journey together let us read it with a renewed heart and mind asking God to reveal to us His character as He is the essence of Love.
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. Love never fails.
God is the essence of Love.
So we read 1 Corinthians 13v4-8 with Him in mind:
God is patient, God is kind. God does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud. God does not dishonor others, God is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered, God keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. God never fails.
Now, lets dig in, shall we?!
Breaking down the scriptures is such an adventure... you think you have dug deep until you get to "deep" and you can go "deeper." Loving the mystery of God!
Here are the definitions and antonyms of the words that are being used to describe love...
Patient- Bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.
Impatient- not patient; not accepting delay, opposition, pain, etc., with calm or patience. Restless in desire or expectation; eagerly desirous.
Kind- implies a deep-seated characteristic shown either habitually or on occasion by considerate behavior
unkind- lacking in kindness or mercy; severe.
Does not envy
Envy- a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.
Does not boast
Boast -to speak in exaggerated or excessively proud terms of one's possessions, skills, or superior qualities; brag
Is not Proud
Proud-feeling pleasure or satisfaction over something regarded as highly honorable or creditable to oneself
Does not dishonor others
Dishonor- to deprive of honor; disgrace; bring reproach or shame on
Is not self-seeking
Self-seeking- the act or an instance of seeking one's own profit or interest, esp exclusively
Is not easily angered
angered- a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence [easily] aroused by a wrong; wrath
Keeps no record of wrong
forgiving- to grant pardon of..
Does not delight in evil
evil-morally wrong;wicked,
Rejoices with truth
truth- the state or character of being true
Always protects
protects- to defend or guard from attack
Always hopes
hopes- to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence
Always perseveres
persevere- to persist with anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty
Never fails
fails- to fall short of success
As we pray through this scripture we see the depth of the love God has for us... let this love transform our hearts and drip off of us so we may learn to love deeper...and when we think we are loving deep we see that deep can go deeper.
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