Journey of Paul
Week 2
Thursday, February 8
Love is Not
1 Corinthians 13:4-6
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
Sometimes we can know what something is by what it is not. Here is my own list or version of what love is not, based upon the words of 1 Corinthians 13: 4-6.
When I want what you have, to the extent that it changes me, that is not love.
When I feel the need to proclaim to the world all of my accomplishments because I am not actually centered or comfortable in my own skin, that is not love.
When I do not see your value, and dishonor you, that is not love.
When I look inwards only to satisfy my own needs, that is not love.
When I explode because my short-fuse has been lit over something trivial, that is not love.
When I keep a list of those who have hurt me, and the different actions taken against me, only to satisfy my own justifications, that is not love.
When I join in the mob mentality by my conversation or social media sharing and posting, or when I affirm our dog-eat-dog world, that is not love.
When I prefer falsehood for my own personal convenience, rather than living in reality or truth, that is not love.
It might be hard to see love, but when we see something that is clearly not love, it tends to make sense. So start living in love, even if it is by avoiding all of the things that love is not.
Prayer
Lord, help me to love. Amen