This morning, as I read the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, I came to chapter 13. I have read it dozens of times, and each time I admire the deep meaning that God has given through the Apostle Paul. Christians call it the “The Love Chapter.” I asked myself again: Can I really love… when it is difficult to love?
Paul is not talking about that sentimental love known to the world, but the love that makes you different – patient, humble, forgiving, honest, defending good and justice, self-controlled, loving when it is difficult to love…
Here is the entire 13th chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13)
Let’s do an interesting experiment together. I will write again only some of the verses and where you see the word “Love“, replace it with your name. See if what you read is true for you.
Let’s start:
Love suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy;
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
So what do you think? When you replaced the word “love” with your name, did you see yourself in what was written? Or were there things you need to work on?
I think it is good and useful to read this “Love Chapter” from time to time …
If you wish, you can share whether you liked this experiment, did you feel encouraged, which verses made a strong impression on you? Or you can just share your opinion about love.