Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 15 – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love Is – Growing As Disciples
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
Love Looks Like
I have no doubt that this is what love looks like. I also have no doubt, whatsoever, that this is what you look like as well. I am equally sure that my life does not measure up to this description of love. Why is that? I’m not sure. I’m human. I am a sinner. Occasionally, I am some of these things in part. I am never all of these things in full, nor do I even come close to displaying a significant portion of these qualities all together at one time. I may be patient and proud. I may be kind and boastful. I may be truthful and angry. What is quite clear, is that, I desperately need your help. Why do you need my help? You want me to become like you. I want to become like you. I want to be able to demonstrate your love to the world. I want your love to flow through me. I want to love others just as you love me. I want others to see your love in me so that they will be drawn to you. I’m sure we have the same goals. We do have the same goals, don’t we? Yes, we do have the same goals. I want you to love others just as I love you. I want you to follow my example. I do want you to become like me. That’s good. Yes, it is very good.
Well, I know what will not work. I know what has not worked. What’s that? It will not work, it has not worked, for me to simply try harder to love others. I have tried that over and over year after year. My efforts have met with miserable failure. Yes, I have noticed. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. Didn’t you say you wanted to become like me? Yes, I did. How will you become like me? I will become like you as I spend time with you. I will become like you as I draw near to you. I will become like you as I walk with you. I will become like you as I am in your presence. Yes, you will. As you become like me, what won’t you need to try harder to do? I will not need to try harder to love others because you will be changing me and making me more like you. Loving others will be the biproduct of you making me to be more like you. Now, you get it. Now, you understand. Yes, I do. That is very good.
Lord, I have not loved others just as you have loved me. My love for others has been far from perfect. Forgive me. Help me. I want to love others like you love me. Develop in me the highest and best qualities of love. Help me demonstrate your love to the world. Amen
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