1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Amplified Bible)
4) Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5) It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6) It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7)Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8) Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].
This weekend was Valentine's Day and I saw some of the most romantics exhibitions and expressions of what people's definition of love is. I saw my best friend's boyfriend propose, I heard of all the sweet gifts given and all of the sentiments shared. My father was sick on Valentine's Day and the evening I had planned for He and my mother, had to be forgone because of his illness. But I saw my mom stay by his side, nurse him and wipe his forehead, clean him up and hang in with him the entire day. She never even left the house. It dawned on me that, her display, her dedication and her commitment was a true exhibition of love. Not just because she did it with a willing heart, but because if one were to read the scripture contained above, you would see she was a living testament to it.
As I talked to my God daughter and we discussed some issues and some areas of challenge in her life and relationship, the Holy Spirit reminded me again of this scripture and said for her to read it and compare his actions, his behaviors and his behaviors with this scripture. Then I asked the question was "he living this scripture in any way?" if so what was he doing before verses where he is presently? I have been in relationships and have heard the words I love you, I need you, God gave you to me, but when the rubber really hit the road and the road became rough, love did not endure, it did not stand, it did not bear up. It was as shallow as a wade pool and had the substance of jello, it had nothing that was substantial or sustaining. It is so easy to utter the words I love you, for so many, but it is hard to really live it, because it requires for us to see someone other than ourselves. That is why we can fall in and out of love with each other, and this is truly one of the reasons we have issues sustaining relationships with each other and with God.
Talking the talk is one thing but to apply the Word as our guide and our measuring stick is another. To make ourselves accountable to God and to another, causes us to have to look outside of the "me realm" to the "we realm." We as in God in me and and God's love in me and God's love exhibited through me to another. The next time you say "I love you" or you feel you are falling in love pull out this scripture and compare it to how you feel, how you are living and what you are willing to give, you may very well find it is not love but some other emotion at work. It may be time to seek God's wisdom to get where you need to go and love how you need to love!
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