Love

Love

Bible: 1 Corinthians 13

Reading

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who
seek peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for
the wicked (VV.37-38).

During a church meeting, our church leader asked us to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 out loud, and swap the word “Jesus” in wherever it read: “love”. It seemed so natural to say, “Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. Jesus does not envy, Jesus does not boast, Jesus is not proud . . . Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth . . . Jesus never fails.” Then he said, “Read the passage aloud and say your name instead of Jesus.” We laughed nervously. “I want you to begin now,” he said. Quietly, feeling ashamed I said the words that felt so untrue: “David is patient, David is kind. David does not envy, David does not boast, David is not proud . . . David never fails.” The exercise made me ask myself, How am I stopping God from showing His love through me? Do I think that other things, like what I achieve, are more important than love? Paul said that from God’s perspective things like speaking well, understanding the Bible, being generous and serving are worthless if they’re not done in love (1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-3). God wants to show His amazing love for others through us. Will we allow Him to do it?

LIVING LIKE JESUS IS LOVING LIKE GOD.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries