. . . a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31)
Love is described as the best of gifts and virtues that Paul describes in his first letter to the Corinthians. Yes, there are the great virtues of faith and hope, but “the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). In fact, love is at the center of who God is.
What exactly is love? Paul gets the ball rolling for us as he describes it in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6. Take Paul’s example and imagine what love might look like for you. Love . . .
It is patient. When you save someone’s place in line even though you’re in a hurry as well, that’s love.
Is kind. When you kindly listen to your spouse talk about their tough day even though yours was not much better, that’s love.
Is not jealous. When you encourage others and their gifts instead of asserting yourself, that’s love.
Is not proud. When you hold back from a need to look superior to a friend and instead praise her accomplishments, that’s love.
Is not rude. When you discard an insult before it comes out of your mouth, that’s love.
Does not seek its own interests. When you lay aside time you were planning to watch TV and instead help a friend move, that’s love.
Is not irritable. When we slow down, take a breath, and say a prayer before reacting to an abrasive coworker, that’s love.
Does not keep a record of wrongs. When you stop rehashing all the ways someone has wronged you, that’s love.
Rejoices with the truth. When you refuse to use lies to make yourself look better, that’s love.
Love never gives up (13:8). When everything else in you wants to give up on a person because they have failed you many times before, but for their sake, you do not give up on them, that’s love.
When we experience that God loves us like this, we will find the strength to share this love with others. We love because He first loved us.
“Lord, lead us in the most excellent way—the way of your love.”