Kristi and I are celebrating 30 years of marriage this year and like many, our wedding featured Paul’s description of love found in the 3rd chapter of 1 Corinthians. At the time and in the moment, I was probably not focusing on the different attributes that make up true agape love. I was probably thinking more about other types of love. I certainly did not understand how hard it would be to live out those attributes of selfless love on a daily basis. Our sinful nature trends toward the opposite of every aspect Paul mentions. Our natural bent, unfortunately, is often impatience, envy, pride, selfishness, anger, evil, cynicism and laziness. So, let us read once again with fresh eyes and with the perspective that the world in general and our world, in particular, would do well to read these verses every morning before launching into our day.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I suppose Paul was trying to make a point by putting patience at the very top of the list. How did he know me so well? Still working on that one. Sure glad that the Lord and my bride are patient with me.