Verse of the Day 7/1

Verse of the Day 7/1

1 Corinthians 13:4-5   Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;   English Standard Version (ESV)

Today's verses are probable very familiar to us and hopefully, can be used to describe us.

As I read these verses yesterday I thought of them in relation to our political landscape with all of the name calling, biting tweets, calls to "get in the oppositions face", and saying "you are not welcome here".  They all point to a lack of civility and behind that, a lack of love, biblical or otherwise.

Perhaps the saddest part of it all is that professing Christians join in the fray.  We should be, we need to be leaders in the call to restore civility and it can only be done by showing "love that does not envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude, does not insist on its own way and is not irritable or resentful."  When your read that a second time it makes you wonder "what would the news channels report on then?  Perhaps it would be acts of love and mercy, good deeds, relations restored and hope for a better day and future.

Read the short passage from The Message below.   The last statement that I copied is "never looks back".  When  a love is shown that is civil and not me first, there shouldn't be any need to look back.

Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,

Show this kind of love today to whomever you meet or have a conversation with.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 The Message (MSG)

^3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.