1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
We often think of love as a feeling but Paul describes love as a way of living. Holy love is not simply something we feel toward people we like. It is something we practice, especially when it is difficult. Paul does not define love by emotion. He describes it through actions: patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, perseverance, and selflessness. Love chooses how to respond when feelings are not cooperating. It is easy to be patient when everything goes our way. It is easy to be kind when we are appreciated. But holy love becomes visible when we are disappointed, misunderstood, ignored, or hurt.
Notice how practical Paul's description is. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. It does not insist on its own way. It does not delight in evil. It protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. This means love is not merely something we have; it is something we practice. Every difficult relationship gives us an opportunity to practice the love of Christ. Every irritation gives us an opportunity to practice patience. Every offense gives us an opportunity to practice forgiveness. Every opportunity to serve gives us an opportunity to practice kindness. Jesus did not merely tell us to, showed us what love looks like.
Holy love asks not, “How do I feel about this person?” but, “How can I love this person the way Christ has loved me?”
Reflection:
Which quality of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is God asking me to practice most intentionally right now?
Application:
Choose one quality of love today either patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, or perseverance and deliberately practice it with someone who needs to experience Christ's love through you.
Don't just admire biblical love. Practice it.