Many couples in their wedding ceremony use the verses from 1 Corinthians 13 in their vows. We did, too. Here it is streamlined and easily understood by everyone. This chapter selection from 1 Corinthians is written for everyone; just like every other part of the Bible. We need to apply the things we read and learn on how to be better Christians to ourselves and to stop pointing fingers at those who fail to live up to our standards of what it means to be Christian. It is God's measure we need to live up to. When we don't, we all fail.
Oh, Lord, guide me in all Your ways, that I might be the Christian You have called me to be. I surrender myself to You. Mold me into a useful vessel to be used for Your purposes and not mine. Shine through me. Shine the Light of Love and Compassion into the darkness that encompasses my walk. Joy over me with singing. I delight in Your Word and hunger for more of you. Fill me to overflowing. Continue to teach me to love like You love. In Jesus' Name, these things I ask; these things I praise You for. Amen.
LOVE IS.........
PATIENT (LONG-SUFFERING, WAITS)
KIND (SHOWS MERCY TO ALL REGARDLESS OF RACE, POLITICS, BELIEFS, CULTURE)
ENVIES NOT (DOES NOT WANT WHAT OTHERS HAVE_
GENEROUS (WITH THE BLESSINGS WHICH GOD HAS POURED OUT)
HUMBLE (PUTS THE NEEDS OF OTHERS FIRST)
MEEK AND MERCIFUL (STRONG IN THOUGHT AND ACTION)
REJOICES IN DECISIONS AND ACTIONS BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD AND DOES NOT REJOICE WHEN SOMEONE SINS
BEARS (WITHSTANDS, CARRIES) ALL THINGS
BELIEVES (HAS FAITH IN) ALL THINGS
HOPES (ANTICIPATES WITH JOY) ALL THINGS
ENDURES (HOLDS ON) ALL THINGS
NEVER FAILS (NEVER ENDS, NEVER STOPS)
1 Corinthians 13:4-7. 13
V4. Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not: charity does not vaunt itself, nor puff itself up,
V5. Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;
V6. Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
V7. Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
V8. Charity never fails: prophecies fail, tongues cease; knowledge shall vanish away
V13. And now abides FAITH, HOPE and CHARITY, these three; but the greatest of these is CHARITY.
"Abides" means lives in. Faith lives in us through Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He who was crucified for our sins. He took our punishment that we live eternally through Him and with Him. Hope lives in us: a blessed hope we have, one which causes us to rejoice daily: we will see Jesus face to face someday and live forever in the mansions which He has prepared for us. We will see God and live. We will sing praise to Him who is Truth and Beauty.
Charity lives in us because Christ lives in us. As we allow the Holy Spirit of God to move in our minds, in our hearts, in our spirits, in our lives, we are changed from glory to glory until we become fully what God has chosen us to be.
To God be the glory and none other. There is no god like our GOD.
