1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Are you ready for the love test? Do you consider yourself a lover of God and a lover of the members of the family of God? Do you love the lost and dying enough to give yourself fully to the work of the Lord? It is time for the love test!
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 once more, but with a difference. Replace the word love with the name Jesus: Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind, Jesus does not envy, Jesus does not boast, Jesus is not proud, Jesus does not dishonor others, Jesus is not self seeking, Jesus is not easily angered, Jesus does not delight in evil but He rejoices with the truth. Jesus always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. JESUS NEVER FAILS!
Now read it once again and replace the word love with your own name. This is your personal love test. It is rather embarrassing isn’t it? There may be a few attributes that we come close to achieving, but for the most part we receive a low grade.
It is amazing how perfectly Jesus fits into this passage. Jesus was the Father’s expression of love to a lost and dying world. Where we fail, He succeeds. He reaches down and draws us close to Him. We are not saved by passing the test, we are saved because Jesus loved us enough to die for us. If you have never opened your heart and received Jesus as your Savior, do so before it is too late!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil