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GOLD-STANDARD LOVE

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps not 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" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NIV).

With sixty-six books in the Bible, containing a total of more than 31,000 verses, it can be difficult to single out just one favorite Scripture. Certainly, a few sections may appeal especially to each person, based on his or her own personal walk of faith. The entire Bible, the Word of God, contains history, instruction, promises and other truths that prove dearer to the hearer as they apply to daily life.

One of my all-time favorite sections of the Bible is a popular passage for many. First Corinthians 13 is known as the "Love Chapter." The Apostle Paul penned these words in his epistle to the young Christian church in Corinth. This church's origins are outlined in Act 18, which details Paul's second missionary journey.

Although the "Love Chapter" has become a perennial favorite for weddings, love letters and romantic applications, this was not Paul's original context. His meaning was much broader. The love he describes applies to human relationships in general.

I love this section of Scripture, because of the promise it portrays. What would our world be like, if each of us learned to love this way?

PERSONALIZING THE PASSAGE

Here's how this passage may be applied to any individual. As a reader, you simply substitute your own name for the word "love" or the pronoun "it," as it refers to "love."

Although it may sound redundant, the repetition is purposeful. Inserting your own name, the passage will read as follows:

"YOUR NAME is patient, YOUR NAME is kind. YOUR NAME does not envy, YOUR NAME does not boast, YOUR NAME is not proud. YOUR NAME is not rude, YOUR NAME is not self-seeking, YOUR NAME is not easily angered, YOUR NAME keeps not record of wrongs. YOUR NAME does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. YOUR NAME always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. YOUR NAME never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NIV).

REPLACING GUILT WITH HOPE

If we are honest with ourselves, most of us will quickly sense conviction by personalizing this passage. Who can possibly measure up to this gold standard of loving others?

The answer is simple. Re-read the passage again. However, this time, substitute the Name of Jesus for "love" or the pronoun "it," as it refers to "love."

Here's what you will find:

"JESUS is patient, JESUS is kind. JESUS does not envy, JESUS does not boast, JESUS is not proud. JESUS is not rude, JESUS is not self-seeking, JESUS is not easily angered, JESUS keeps not record of wrongs. JESUS does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. JESUS always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. JESUS never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, NIV).

What peace we can know, when we realize that the Lover of our souls loves this way!

The Apostle John clearly explained how we may respond to this great love: "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19, NIV).

Knowing this truth, the Apostle Peter was able to say, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8, NIV).

Indeed, this is reason to love!

Learn more about this author, Linda Ann Nickerson.
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