I am nothing without love… “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable and doesn’t keep a record of being wronged; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7).
Lord Jesus, I know my heart needs fresh mercy and grace when I immediately want to offer “Yes, but’s” and qualifiers to this well-known portion of your Word. Being wise is one thing, but wanting to weasel out of the implications of your love is quite another. Help me. Free me.
Every phrase in this passage drives me to you, Jesus—as the only One who ever perfectly loved like this. We’re not saved to the degree we love like this, but to the degree you loved like this on our behalf, and now love us like this as your treasured Bride. There is no greater mystery, gift, or hope.
In particular, Jesus, I’m struggling with love not “keeping a record of being wronged,” and love “believes all things.” I know you’re not calling us to have amnesia about how we’ve been hurt, or to pretend like things didn’t happen. But you are calling us (me) to forgive from the heart. Help me. Free me. Even if those who wronged me never own it, I want to be freer on the inside, Jesus.
And about the issue of love “believes all things”—bring me back to the place of assuming the best of others and situations, not the worse. I don’t want to be foolishly naïve; but even less do I want to be always suspicious, overly guarded, too easily cynical, and unwilling to trust. Jesus, you are always present and at work in every situation, no exceptions. Thank you, and … So Very Amen.