Ahh, the great love chapter of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13. If you picked this chapter apart, verse by verse, and replaced the word, “love,” with ____ (your name), would it still hold true?

“Love endures with patience and serenity,”

Love endures. 

Love doesn’t quit. 

Love has patience with others who are not having patience with you.  

Love understands that there are some things you cannot change and must accept.  

Love knows the only way to endure, last, make it to the other side of the raging storm is to have patience and serenity.  

 {{{ Love Challenge: Embrace serenity next time your patience is tested. Accept the things you cannot change, change what you can and choose to know the difference. }}}

“love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.”

Love is nice. 

Love is not always wishing you had something you don’t have.  

Love doesn’t find the need to look like you’re better than someone else. 

Love doesn’t have a deep sick need to impress everyone and come across better than everyone.  

Love is not in competition all the time. 

Love doesn’t brag on social media but love’s purpose for social media is to share and connect. 

{{{ Love Challenge: Choose contentment and not jealousy understanding that bragging and the need to impress is a huge repellent accomplishing the exact opposite of your goal. }}} 

“It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.”

Once, I literally wanted to write down a list of all the wrongs that were done to me so that I could discuss them with someone, so that maybe if they saw it in black and white ink, then maybe, just maybe we could talk through each one to get understanding and move on. As I picked up the pen, this verse came to me. Simply put, I stopped in my tracks when I realized I was in direct opposition of scripture. Then I had to choose once and for all to get that list out of my head so I could move on….whether they chose to or not.

I then thought of the possible list they had against me. Some of which may have been listed in the same verse—- self seeking, easily angered, overly sensitive, and provoked to be hurt by well, that list I neglected to make. 

{{{ Love Challenge: Put the pen down & don’t keep a record of wrong. Next time you are easily angered or overly sensitive, realize that is the sin to focus on and get rid of, not whatever they are doing to provoke you.  }}}

Love is not sassy & rude, always thinking of your own perspective. 

Love doesn’t wear your feelings on your shoulders. Love doesn’t get your feelings hurt often. When it first happens, love immediately thinks of what might be going on in their lives and has mercy.”

Love realizes the perspective of the other is often miles apart from your own. Whether your perspective or theirs is right is not the point. The point is that when you’re understand that the perspectives are soooo different, you realize your sassy behavior is asinine.  

Love doesn’t get hurt feelings. Love chooses not to participate in this sin. Love sees offense as the sin that it is and doesn’t brag, “I’m offended”. Love understands that when you are offended, you are merciless and self seeking, lacking mercy for what the other is going through.  

{{{ Love Challenge:  Choose not to be offended, not to sass—rather yield to meekness considering the feelings of the other. }}}

“It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. 

Love is stronger than revenge. Love doesn’t say, “Ha! Serves them right!” Love looks for the best in people, not always trying to dig up dirt. This is real strength, the kind that never fails. 

{{{ Love Challenge: Rest in the strength of love knowing that Love Never Fails! Revenge is much harder work than love. Choose to yield to love and watch your endurance soar! }}}

“But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.”

You may think you are super spiritual, but all that jibber jabber spiritual talk will one day fail. Love will never fail. Don’t measure your spiritual maturity based on prophesy or tongues, but on love. What good is it all without love? None!   

So basically the summary of 

1 Corinthians 13 is #loveANYWAY

{{{ Love Challenge: love ANYWAY }}} 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Amplified Bible (AMP)

4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.

Happy Monday and Happy Valentine’s!