Princess Principals: Love's Character

In 1 Corinthians 13, we learn love’s characteristics.

Love is:

Patient/Satisfied/Trusting: If you trust in God, you’ll be satisfied with your current life, and you’ll be patient about the future.If you allow love to take over your perception, you stop rushing through life. There’s no worry about tomorrow or concern with two years from now because you have faith that God will fulfill his promises. This breeds peace.

Kind/Selfless/Protecting: Have you ever noticed how you felt after doing something good for someone else? Whether it was planning a party, giving a gift, or donating some time? There’s something spiritual about giving. It’s sharing a part of yourself with someone else, whether associate or stranger.

Humble/Polite: Thinking too highly of oneself is dangerous because it creates a false sense of power which is often easily revoked. The difference between being humble and  being humiliated is who does it. Either you’ll be humiliated by someone else or humbled by yourself.

Forgiving/Persevering: Jesus instructs us to forgive and declares the forgiveness of our sins is based on how we do so. “For you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14-15) Forgiveness acknowledges the human ability to fail, to make mistakes, to do wrong. If no one forgave you of the wrongs you committed, it would be a lonely existence.

Honest/Hoping: Deception is running rampant these days. Many of us want to be loved for who we are, not what we represent or what we do. Jesus was perfect; however, his disciples were not. Paul and Peter speak with transparency in their gospels. Testimonies are so important because they serve as encouragement to someone going through a similar situation. “…first take the plank out of your own eyes, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:6)

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35.

Source: Blog Magazine