Bible/Advice/Resources

By Summer Lane

Photo: Pixabay

“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.” 

This verse (1 Corinthians 13:4-7), is the best example of what love should look like for the Christian, and the best part about it is that it can be applied to any relationship. With Valentine’s Day marketing working overtime to convince us that worldly love is centered solely on flowers, jewelry, or late-night hookups, it’s so refreshing to root ourselves firmly in the Word of God and remind ourselves of what not only romantic love should look like – but what love for everyone should look like!

Earlier in this passage, the Apostle Paul discusses the importance of love – how actions or talent without godly love is literally meaningless. Here’s the passage:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Paul also goes on to say that “love never fails.” Importantly, he further notes that in the end, three things will remain: faith, hope, and love. Of these three, Paul says that love is the greatest. This makes sense, because love is the driver behind all of the things. In fact, love is the reason Jesus died for us on the cross.

Romans 5:6-11

But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us. 9 So, now that we have been made righteous by his blood, we can be even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him.

The world will tell us that romantic love is all about sex. The world will also tell us that love is all about gender identity. The Bible says something entirely different. God’s Word says love is about self-sacrifice and perseverance. It’s about giving yourself to someone else, even when it’s not easy. It’s about forgiving others. It’s about self-control and elevating truth. Love is not necessarily easy, and in fact, based on these passages, love is often a conscious choice of action and behavior rather than a euphoric sense of infatuation.

The world’s definition of love is skewed by godlessness and hopelessness. The world pursues fleshly desire because for those who do not know the Lord, this Earth is all they have. But for the Christian, love – whether romantic or otherwise – has a big picture meaning. It’s a reflection of Christ’s love for us, and it’s a fulfilling, everyday practice that breathes new life into the world around us and lights up even the darkest places.

 

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Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of 30 books, including the hit Collapse Series and Resurrection Series. She is an experienced journalist and editor who is covering the White House and Trump administration. She owns Write Revolution News.

Summer is also a mom and wife who enjoys rural country living, herding cats, and gardening. She is passionate about writing on women’s issues, parenting, and politics from a theologically-grounded perspective that points readers to the good news of the gospel.

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