MEDITATION: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
REVELATION: Real, authentic love crosses all relationships and situations: with family, friends, significant others, strangers, and our enemies. The love of God in us isn’t evident or defined simply by what we say; rather, it is defined by what we do and how we do it.
APPLICATION: How patient are you with the people in your life? How patient are you when they make mistakes or don’t speak or act as quickly as you want them to? How quick are you to wash your hands of/dismiss others? How do you respond when the person in in front of you is taking his/her own sweet time? Paul tells us that love is patient. This means that we don’t become easily irritated and frustrated with others. Kind love is mild and gentle when dealing with others even if they don’t deserve it.
Love isn’t jealous of others: what they look like, what they have, who they’re with. Love doesn’t brag and is not conceited, boosting oneself over others. Love is not snobbish or arrogant, exalting itself above others. Love isn’t harsh, abrasive, or impolite. Love is courteous and respectful towards everyone. Love doesn’t feel that everything has to be its way or no way. Love doesn’t look out only for itself; love doesn’t ask “What’s in it for me?”
Have you ever been short with someone or had a difficult time letting go/forgiving people who you feel have wronged you? If so, that’s not love. The text teaches us that love forgives. Forgiving a person does not mean that you are saying that the person is right for what he/she did. Forgiving people releases you from being held back/stuck because of what they did; forgiving also releases them to God. Unforgiveness causes us to become resentful, especially when we see them going on with their lives as if nothing happened or they are not concerned about our feelings. Before we know it, we’re tempted to become vindictive and spiteful. If we’re not careful, we’ll start behaving that way.
Love is not happy when people are mistreated or oppressed; love is not happy when lies prevail; but, it celebrates when right and truth prevail. Love is by your side in the good times and the bad. Love always looks for the best in every person, always hopes for the best no matter how bad things get, and remains strong through it all.
Now that you know what Christian love looks like, how would you assess your love walk? Do you need to improve in any areas? Do you need to be more patient with people and/or with yourself? Why is it hard for you to live love as God expects us to as His children? If you struggle with accepting God’s love for you as shown through others, why is that? Do you love yourself? After all, you cannot fully love others if you don’t love yourself. Pray about your answers to these questions. Release whatever has been holding you back and put it into God’s more than capable hands. Ask God to heal you in your broken places and ask Him to give you what you need in order to love others the way that God loves us.
THINK ON THESE THINGS... 
Comments on: "1 Corinthians 13:4-7" (3)
TIMELY!!!
Thank you, this is so helpful. Sandra Norris
As Christians, God teaches us to treat others as you would have them to treat you. Christians are to love one another through the good times and the bad times. There is nothing greater than the love for one another. The world would be a much better place if we all could try to express the love for one another more often. Thank you for the message.