December 27, 2022 - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

Lord, love is a word that we use a lot. We say we love this; we love that. We say, “I love you” to this person and that person. On some level that might be true, but when I read this list of what love does and what it doesn’t do, I have to wonder how much of my love fully measures up to it. I fall short in so many of these areas. My love often comes with conditions and limits. As much as I don’t want it to and as much as I hate to admit it, it is the truth. My “love” definitely fails at times. It can be self-seeking and proud. It does keep a record of wrongs at times. It fails to hope and trust. It isn’t always kind, and it can be found envying. Oh Lord, please forgive me. Please teach me how to truly love.

Lord, we praise you for being such a great example of what perfect love is. We praise you for how you love us. We want to learn to love you back, as well as love others, like you love us. You are so kind and patient with us. It is unbelievable how you forgive over and over even when we know the choices we make will cause you pain. Help us learn to be patient and not easily angered. Help us learn to forgive and not keep a record of wrong. Lord, we praise you for how your love is humble and puts others before yourself. You sacrificed everything for we who deserved nothing. Teach us how to put others before us and walk humbly like you. Teach us how to protect and not harm; to always be trustworthy; to believe the best about others and to cling to hope. Help us persevere, without fail.

In Jesus name, amen.