So I was reading 1 Corinthians 13 the other day, as part of my daily time with God, and I found a new appreciation for the verses that are contained within this passage of Scripture. The “Love” section of 1 Corinthians 13 is something one might often see at weddings but it seems to me that the “Love” passage actually can apply to life in general…not just at the wedding of two people.
In a New American Standard Bible one will see the heading “The Excellence of Love,” well that for sure is a rather appropriate heading. Verse 13, the last verse in 1 Corinthians 13, puts it perfectly, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Love truly is the greatest and something that everyone seeks. God of course has the most perfect love. In Greek the word used to describe God’s love is agape, as a matter of fact the word used in 1 Corinthians 13 for love is agape.
According to Wikipedia agape means:
Agápe (αγάπη agápē) means "love" in modern day Greek, such as in the term s'agapo (Σ'αγαπώ), which means "I love you". In Ancient Greek, it often refers to a general affection or deeper sense of "true love" rather than the attraction suggested by "eros". Agape is used in the biblical passage known as the "love chapter", 1 Corinthians 13, and is described there and throughout the New Testament as sacrificial love. Agape is also used in ancient texts to denote feelings for a good meal, one's children, and the feelings for a spouse. It can be described as the feeling of being content or holding one in high regard (1).
God’s love is perfect and is in fact a love that a Christian should strive for, in fact all people should strive to have this kind of love. One should strive to have a love that is:
...patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away (2).
I will admit that I fail pretty much daily to give perfect love. I also admit I fail to always put others before myself. Even though I fail I still pray to God and ask the Holy Spirit to help me and empower me to love the way the Bible talks about loving.
I’m currently single and truth be told I hope to love a woman in marriage in a biblical way. I hope to love her like Christ loves the church. I hope to love her so much that I put her needs above myself. However, if it is God’s will for my life to be single for the rest of it then so be it. At any rate I hope and pray to love others the way 1 Corinthians 13 says to love.
I am so thankful for the love God has for me and for what Jesus Christ did for me. I do, however; realize that that love is not reserved only for me. I hope and pray for all of my non-believing friends that they come to know and love Jesus Christ, who is fully man and fully God, like I do. Every thing that I am and everything that I have I give all thanks to God for it is He who has given it to me.
“Thank you so much Father God for your Son Jesus Christ! Thank you for becoming a man and living a perfect life, and for dying on the cross to save a terrible sinner such as myself. I know and thank you that you saved me even though I deserve eternal separation from you. I know that it is you that has saved me and not anything I have done. I also know that even my saving faith is a gift from you.
Thank you so much for indwelling me oh Lord. I am so thankful for the help and guidance that the Holy Spirit has provided me and will continue to provide me. I am so thankful that years ago when I thought of ending my life by taking it you said to me that better days were coming.
I am also thankful Lord that my mother raised, showed me, and taught me about your perfect love God. I am also thankful that you took her home to be with you in heaven. I am so glad and thankful that when I die I will not only be in your presence but I will see my mother again and I can hug her again.
You God are so wonderful. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to continue to confess and repent of my sins each day. I so desire to be more like Christ. I also desire to show Christ’s love to others.”
When doing research to write this refection I came across the following link:
http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg1863.htm
Please give it a look as it is an article by John MacArthur. If anyone reading this is not a believer and would like me to tell them about Jesus Christ, and how great He is please feel free to send me a message and I will get back to you. Also, I want everyone to know that is my friend…I love and care about you. If there is ever anything I can do for you please let me know. At the very least I can pray for you and just be a kind ear to hear your concerns.
Sources:
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_words_for_love
(2) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:%204-8&version=NASB
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