- “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1Cor.13:7 NLT)
- “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1Cor.13:7 ESV).
- “Love puts up with anything. Trusts God always. Always looks for the best. Never looks back but keeps going to the end” (1Cor.13:7 The Message).
- “Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything” (1Cor.13:7 JB Phillips).
- “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1Cor.13:7 NIV).
Dear Jesus, no matter how we translate, paraphrase, or parse this one verse, it makes us grateful for three things today: 1. You and your stunning, exquisite, lavish love for us (Eph.3:18). 2. New mercies as this day begins, because in light of this verse, we are neophytes in loving well. 3. Our Father’s commitment to finish making us like you (Phil.1:6).
Only you love like this, Jesus—and you love us like this 100%. Having born our sin on the cross, you now bear and forbear with us all the way Home. You know the worst about us still greatly delight in us. You believe the best about us because we have the best of you in us: We’re made in your image. You are being formed inside us (Gal.4:19). One Day we will be as fully like you as a redeemed son and daughter of God can possibly be (1Jn.3:1-3). Hallelujah!
Jesus, you know the relationships, stories, and contexts where we feel like the biggest love-failures. You also know our confusion, fear, traumas, and reluctance to risk loving certain people like this. In ways beyond all we can ask or imagine, love through us to your glory. So Very Amen.
