“I am nothing without love” (1 Cor.13:2). No matter the culture, moment, or language—to be loveless is to be nothing: Нічого -Ukraine; ничего – Russia; هیچی – Iran; אֶפֶס – Israel; 没有什么 – China; Nada, Cuba; Nuttin’ – North Carolina
What does love look like? “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable and doesn’t keep a record of being wronged; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1Cor.13:4-7)
Lord Jesus, every phrase in this heaven-authored description of love drives me to you. What do I need only you can give? Forgiveness, righteousness, power to love like you love me, endurance to love with your love all the way Home. Fortunately, we are not saved to the degree we love like this; but to the degree you love us like this—which is 100%.
Of late I’ve been struggling with “love not keeping a record of being wronged,” and “love believes all things.” I know you don’t expect us have to have amnesia about our wounds, hurts, and traumas; or to pretend like certain things didn’t happen. But you do call us (me) to forgive from the heart and to deal with “stuff” as redemptively as possible. Help us (me), Jesus. Free us (me).
Even if those who wronged me never own it, grieve it, and repent. I want to be more kind that right—more free on the inside than rigid on the outside—more likely to be gentle than get triggered. A hurt heart can become a hard heart very easily.
And about the issue of “love believes all things”—I understand this to mean we assume the best of others—rather than presuming the worst. It also means we assume the best of you Jesus—that you are at work for our good in all things, including the ways people harm and fail us. Thank you, and So Very Amen.
