Love is patient and kind — Scripture Reflection #041

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (New Living Translation)

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

I once read that if you want to measure how well you love, you should read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and replace the word “Love” with your name. For example, “Daniel is patient and kind. Daniel is not jealous or boastful…” When you honestly reflect on your behaviors and actions in these categories, you will be able to measure how well you love.

The fact is, love is not just a feeling or something we say to those we are close to. Love is an attitude and behavior and action that we must commit to every day. It challenges us to look outside of ourselves, and not just to those we consider worthy of our love, but to all people–especially those we don’t believe deserve it.

So how well do you measure up to God’s standard of love? How can you embody love today? Who in your life needs extra love today?