LIVING OUT 1 CORINTHIANS 13

This past week in our staff meeting Pastor Eric led us in a devotional centered on 1 Corinthians 13. Many know this chapter by the name “the love chapter.”

Many Christians know this chapter well, especially verses 4-7:

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.

One of the questions Pastor Eric posed to us is which of these do you struggle with the most? I’m essentially borrowing much of his devotional for this post today. I thought it was a really good one – thought provoking for me. Since it seems like this is such a well-known chapter, many people probably gloss over part of it because they have heard it so many times. As Pastor Eric encouraged us, I would encourage you to examine yourself and which of these things come easy for you and which are more difficult.

Thinking about patience, kindness, not keeping a record of wrongs – these can often be more difficult and that can be hard to admit sometimes. We can have a tendency to see ourselves as we should be rather than as how we actually are. I think it would be a good activity for couples to have an open conversation with one another about which of these you struggle with the most (try to refrain from accusing your spouse of which of these you think he or she struggles with the most). This activity might provide some insight as to why you struggle in that area. Think about it, pray about it, ask God to help you in those areas and to better live out these verses both with your spouse and with others as we shine God’s love on the world.

Yours in Christ,

Jarvis