1 Corinthians 13:1 If I don’t have love … I’m a clanging cymbal. 2 If I don’t have love… I am nothing. 3 If don’t have love… I gain nothing.
Heavenly Father, as we meditate through this timeless, humbling passage, we’re thankful no condemnation for our sins remains (Rom. 8:1). But, as your beloved children, plenty of conviction lingers and calls us to a better way. By your Holy Spirit, free us to love well. For the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love (Gal. 5:6).
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Father, this is how you love us in Jesus—our motivation, hope, and supply. By the transforming power of grace, help us be patient with difficult people, irritating circumstances, and poorly-timed disappointments. Supersize our kindness. Slay our contempt. May we envy less, stay gentle, and repent quickly.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Grant us joy in building others up, and ease in taking a low place for ourselves. Free us from self-interest, self-exaltation, self-salvation. Help us steward the emotion of anger—lest we think, say, and do things that harm others unnecessarily. Grant us a photographic memory when it comes to the gospel, but amnesia when it comes to the weaknesses of others.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Father, may we not live to punish those who hurt us, or get even. For revenge belongs to you, not us. Instead, may we rejoice at every expression of the good, true, and beautiful. Loosen the knots in our hearts. Relax our rigidity.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
As the gospel goes deeper into our hearts, may we protect, not shame, others—emotionally, spiritually, and otherwise. Help us trust when trusting isn’t easy; hope, based on who you are, not circumstances; and persevere, especially when it’d be easier to throw in the towel. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ kind and powerful name.
