1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
Reflection
Washing dishing, taking out the trash, cleaning our room. These can all be chores we do grudgingly or things we do gladly and with care for others. The same actions can be vastly different based what our hearts are like. In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul lays out the heart and motivation that should underlie the things we do, especially in the context of the church community. Love should be at the core and Paul elaborates the characteristics that love expresses.
Responding to the Transmission
Read the passage again, not as a checklist of good things to do, but with the heart that wants to be aligned to each expression of love. Even as we fall short in many areas, let’s humbly ask God to grow us in this love and service toward others.
