To follow Jesus in the way of 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 is the climax of all Christian living. If we want to be Jesus-like, we must imitate him in living a life filled with love (Eph 5:2 NLT).
1 Cor 13 is the famous Love Chapter. It says the greatest thing in life is love, and its context is about loving one another. The four verses from 4 to 7 give us the clearest definitions of what love really is – love is patient, love is kind, etc. The verbs used here are all in the present continuous tense, which means that these are actions and attitudes that must become our habitual, ingrained responses in every situation.
Because God is love, this list is also the perfect résumé of the love of Jesus Christ himself. This becomes very obvious when we substitute “Jesus” for “love” in the passage:
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𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 is patient, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 is kind.
𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 does not envy, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 does not boast, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 is not proud.
𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 does not dishonour others, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 is not self-seeking,
𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 is not easily angered, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 keeps no record of wrongs.
𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 always protects, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 always trusts,
𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 always hopes, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 always perseveres.
Now that we are alive in Christ, and with the Holy Spirit transforming us daily into Jesus-likeness, may this also become our spiritual résumé. Insert your own name when you tell your story:
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𝗜 am patient, 𝗜 am kind.
𝗜 do not envy, 𝗜 do not boast, 𝗜 am not proud.
𝗜 do not dishonour others, …
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