Agape Love Described
1 Corinthians 13:1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 John 4:16
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:2
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Matthew 7:21-22
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Love Profits Me
1 CORINTHIANS 13:3
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.
Matthew 6:2
So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind
1 CORINTHIANS 13:4
Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up.
Don't Gossip, That's Not Love
Proverbs 17:9
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
Forgiveness Is Love
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Clothed In Love
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Love Behaves Itself
1 CORINTHIANS 13:5
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;
1 Corinthians 10:24
No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
Romans 15:1-2
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Love Shares The Joy of God's Grace
1 CORINTHIANS 13:6
Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
Here, the word REJOICE, is from the Greek word sugchairó (pronounced soong-khah'-ee-ro), which means: together sharing or experiencing God's grace.
Knowing this, we see that it is quite impossible for those who rejoice in God's grace simply cannot rejoice in iniquity. For we know that iniquity is unrighteousness, a violation of God's justice.
They who take joy in evil cannot be joyful in grace.
Love Suffers Long
1 CORINTHIANS 13:7
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
We Are Called to Suffer
1 Peter 2:21
For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.
Longsuffering Is A Fruit of The Spirit
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.
Longsuffering also means 'Patience'. Not patience in the way we would think, putting limits on how long our patience should last, but the patience of God, a direct result of divine Love. It is God living in us and working in us, on us and through us that produces the Fruit of Longsuffering.
Love Never Fails
1 CORINTHIANS 13:8
Charity never fails but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Faith Works Through Love
Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.
LOVE TRUSTS GOD
1 CORINTHIANS 13:9
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1 Corinthians 8:2
The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
I, admittedly, do not know everything I want to know or think I need to know about being a good Christian. But I do know enough to know that I need to be more rooted and grounded in the Word of God, that I need a Savior and His name is Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.
I do know that righteous living profits me not only in eternity but as I live my life now according to the Word of God; not just to the best of my ability but also in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
I know that much. When I need to know more, the Spirit will inform me. Until then I'll "Only Trust Him" as the song says.
Love Awaits Perfecting
1 CORINTHIANS 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which in in part shall be done away.
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.
Philippians 3:12
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Love Matures
1 CORINTHIANS 13:11
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
In his or her lifetime, the born again believer, regardless of chronological age, is nevertheless viewed by God as His child.
And just like little children, we speak in the language of childhood, we understand very little of perfect Christian maturity and we think like little children. We may be mature in the Word but until the Word matures in us, we are still little children.
When the Word fully matures in us, childhood of this life will dissipate and we will be changed.
Are you ready?
Love Makes Me Known To God
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 8:3
But the one who loves God is known by God.
1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Looking at God through our physical eyes, and even our less than perfect spiritual eyes, is like looking in a tinted mirror or dirt-grimed window: not seeing clearly.
But someday when we are in His eternal presence in His heavenly realm, we will see Him in all His glory and perfection.
Someday we will see His just as clearly and plainly as He sees us.
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Do All Things In Love
1 Corinthians 16:13, 14
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. Do everything in love.
Love Is Sincere
Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
Love Is Pure
The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
Love Is Generous
1 John 3:15-17
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer. By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
Love Is Kind & Forgiving
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Love Covers Us
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
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