Love

[Deacon]

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous;
Love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;
It does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
Does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails...But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 13

Love is patient…
True love is unconditional, that is, it does not depend on the attributes or lack thereof of the person loved, therefore, it is willing to give as much time necessary, and as much space as necessary for that person to grow.

Love is kind and is not jealous…
Love seeks to give others something of benefit for their welfare, and consequently, rejoices when they do benefit.

Love does not brag and is not arrogant…
To lift one's self up in reference to others leaves no room for unconditional, graceful love.

Love does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own…
To act inappropriately, shamefully (morally, especially in the area of sexual purity) is not in accordance with true love. Love never seeks its own gratification but rather the interests of others.

Love is not provoked…Selfishness seeks to manipulate others by stimulating certain selfish emotions. Love will not do this to others, nor will it let it happen to itself.

Love does not take into account a wrong suffered…Forgiveness. Let it go. Bitterness is the acid. You are the container. Get rid of it or it will kill you.

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth…Love does not somehow gloss over things that are going to be hurtful. True love originates from the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…If love really is unconditional, it will hold any weight, face any doubt, persist through hopelessness, and last any trial

Love never fails...If it did, would it be love?

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Someday, faith will not be needed, for we will see God. Hope will not be needed, for when everything is fulfilled, there is no need for hope. But love, yes, to it there will be no end. If it did, it wouldn't be love.