Crispads

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

1 Corinthians, Chapter 13

What is love? In my opinion, it is the ultimate expression of feelings from one person to another. The greatest example of love was Christ's death on the Cross for all mankind. That one sacrifice was the expression of God's love for mankind. In the sacrifice, God showed that he intended the gift of salvation to be spread beyond the Jews to everyone. The apostle clarifies what love is in this chapter. It is a familiar passage, as I can't seem to remember a wedding I have been to where I didn't hear this passage quoted.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

This goes beyond romantic love between a man and a woman though. Love is the one hope we have for humanity because it is the root of our salvation. Our salvation comes from Christ's love for us, and accepting that gift is an expression f our love in return to Christ. My cynical view on life tends to not see the love and beauty in this world, but it is there. Sometimes it seems like mankind goes out of its way to taint something so beautiful, but that is when God reveals His awesome power to forgive. It is an even greater expression of love that God can love us unconditionally when we soil something that is so beautiful and pure as love.

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