Love Hopes All Things
1 Corinthians 13: 4 – 8; 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 truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never fails.
Studying these verses above, one sees that love extends outward, away from self. God’s love is a supernatural energy that flows from His Spirit outward towards everyone. His love has no bounds and is not affected in any way by human thoughts or actions. It can only be hindered by man’s refusal to receive, but its characteristics cannot be altered. John 3:16: "For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
We have a tendency when reading these verses, to compare ourselves with these love characteristics, and feel unworthy or inadequate because we believe that we can’t measure up to these standards. Yet, the good news is that God the Father looks upon us with a heart of Love like described above, and also has placed that Love in our own hearts, so that we can express it to others in words and actions. How do we do it? Since we know that our own human love is lacking, by faith we receive His love and by doing so, by faith we can express His love. Fear is pushed aside and His grace and mercy abounds when we act on His Word of love.
The list below demonstrates how His love extends outward from Himself. When it is operational in us, it will have the same character and produce the same results.
1. Love suffers long (for everyone), and is kind (towards everyone)
2. Loves does not envy (anyone)
We have a tendency when reading these verses, to compare ourselves with these love characteristics, and feel unworthy or inadequate because we believe that we can’t measure up to these standards. Yet, the good news is that God the Father looks upon us with a heart of Love like described above, and also has placed that Love in our own hearts, so that we can express it to others in words and actions. How do we do it? Since we know that our own human love is lacking, by faith we receive His love and by doing so, by faith we can express His love. Fear is pushed aside and His grace and mercy abounds when we act on His Word of love.
The list below demonstrates how His love extends outward from Himself. When it is operational in us, it will have the same character and produce the same results.
1. Love suffers long (for everyone), and is kind (towards everyone)
2. Loves does not envy (anyone)
3. Love does not parade itself (for everyone to see & admire)
4. Love is not puffed up (for everyone to see & admire)
5. Love does not behave rudely (towards anyone)
6. Love does not seek its own (but seeks everyone else’s good)
7. Love is not provoked (by anyone)
8. Love thinks no evil (towards/of anyone)
9. Love does not rejoice in iniquity (towards anyone)
10. Love rejoices in truth (for everyone)
11. Love bears all things (for everyone)
12. Love believes all things (for everyone)
4. Love is not puffed up (for everyone to see & admire)
5. Love does not behave rudely (towards anyone)
6. Love does not seek its own (but seeks everyone else’s good)
7. Love is not provoked (by anyone)
8. Love thinks no evil (towards/of anyone)
9. Love does not rejoice in iniquity (towards anyone)
10. Love rejoices in truth (for everyone)
11. Love bears all things (for everyone)
12. Love believes all things (for everyone)
13. Love hopes all things (never gives up on anyone)
14. Love endures all things (from / for everyone)
14. Love endures all things (from / for everyone)
15. Love never fails (anyone or anything)
1 John 4: 17-18 "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
1 John 4: 17-18 "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
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