Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
 Ciara Lilly is a Charlotte-area writer. Her faith-based column, Fishers of Men, is published here each Monday. Opinions expressed are solely her own. |
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2: If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3: If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5: It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7: It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8: Love never fails.
When you compare 1 Corinthians 13 to your definition of love, how does it match up? Now, match up your actions to the scriptural definition. Are you truly walking in love?
Don’t be surprised if you determine that your love walk has been more like a love crawl. It’s okay; I had that same epiphany. Now that we’re aware, we can change it.
How? I’m glad you asked. 1 Corinthians 13 is a love manual. In the following verses, we’re given the required characteristics to emulate in our lives:
4: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5: It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6: Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7: It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8: Love never fails.
A while ago, I was taught an exercise that helped me tremendously. The exercise was inspired by Romans 4:17, which reads in part, “…the God who gives life to the dead and call things that are not as though they were.”
Exercise: Take 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and replace the word “love” with your first name. Make this exercise a part of your daily declarations.
Let’s use my name for example: “Ciara is patient, Ciara is kind. Ciara does not envy, Ciara does not boast, Ciara is not proud. Ciara does not dishonor others, Ciara is not self-seeking, Ciara is not easily angered, Ciara keeps no record of wrongs. Ciara does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Ciara always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Ciara never fails.
This exercise is effective because it achieves two things: It attaches you to those godly characteristics, and it gives you a rubric to grade your daily actions. If your actions don’t match up with the rubric, you’ll know what areas need some attention. With time and dedicated practice, you’ll progress from crawling to walking to full speed running in godly love!
