Post by michelle on Feb 6, 2007 16:27:29 GMT -8
10/05:
This is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. While I think that verses 4-8 are highly "overplayed", when I read it I think of something that someone once shared with me. Change the word love to the word "I" (some of you may have heard this before).
I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, always perservere. I never fail.
I am in no way saying that this is the reality of who I am (because I am far from fulfilling those things), but rather who God asks us to be. I think it's an excellent tool for self-reflection. Am I living up to these things? God asks me to love my neighbor as I love myself and this is the kind of love He speaks of. If these were job requirements, would I qualify for the position?
Now, try inserting God in there (because "God is Love" after all)...
God is patient, God is kind. God does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He is not rude, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. He does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres. He never fails.
And one of my favorite verses of the Bible 1 Cor 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of theses is love."
This is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. While I think that verses 4-8 are highly "overplayed", when I read it I think of something that someone once shared with me. Change the word love to the word "I" (some of you may have heard this before).
I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, always perservere. I never fail.
I am in no way saying that this is the reality of who I am (because I am far from fulfilling those things), but rather who God asks us to be. I think it's an excellent tool for self-reflection. Am I living up to these things? God asks me to love my neighbor as I love myself and this is the kind of love He speaks of. If these were job requirements, would I qualify for the position?
Now, try inserting God in there (because "God is Love" after all)...
God is patient, God is kind. God does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He is not rude, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. He does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres. He never fails.
And one of my favorite verses of the Bible 1 Cor 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of theses is love."