1st Corinthians Chapter 13
Do I Love Others Fully or With The Bare Minimum?
This chapter is known as the love chapter. A person can brag all they want about all the gifts they have but if they operate these gifts without the key ingredient of love, then their gifts are meaningless.
Then the chapter lists what love is and is not. If I say I love Jesus, and that love is real, then I’ll do what this chapter says love is. I’ll be patient with him. I won’t boast of my self knowing that apart from Jesus I am nothing. I won’t want to dishonor the name of Jesus. I want to brag about him with others so he feels honored. I’ll stay faithful and persevere through the tough times.
This should be the same attitude as with my spouse or even other relationships. I say I love my wife but do I really love her? Am I patient with her? Do I persevere through the tough times? Do I love her so much that I talk about her to others on how wonderful she is so she feels honored?
It’s funny, because as I’m writing this my wife, who recently had foot surgery, asked me to turn the dryer on with the towels in it. As I turned the dryer on I thought about this devotional. How can I put this love into full practice? So I told her when the towels are dry I will fold them as well. She was delighted to hear that.
I feel like I can say I love my wife but I am not confident that I go the extra mile as often as I should. I don’t want to love Jesus with the bare minimum of love. Neither should I want my love for my wife (or others) to be the bare minimum.
Have a love filled day!
