Do What Love Says

Do What Love Says

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

— Galatians 5:22 – 23

Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly — my neighborhood market has been displaying chocolates and roses for weeks now. All for the sake of love. Or is it? Why should we listen to the greeting card companies? Why should chocolate do the talking? Today’s verse says it much better. Many Bible translators place a colon after the word love, indicating that joy, peace, patience, and the rest are actually all characteristics of one thing: love.

I like this paraphrase from The Message of 1 Corinthians 13. It says, “Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have, 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.”

Write out 1 Corinthians 13 from The Message and place it where you can glance at it often. Then, “Do not merely listen to the Word. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Who do you say “I love you” to? Do you show this person kindness? Are you faithful with his or her reputation? Do you give, expecting to receive something in return? Do you keep score when this person has wronged you? Can you rejoice as he or she develops strong relationships with others? “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Lord God, I pray for those whom I love. Make me a clean vessel through which your selfless love will flow toward others. May I expect nothing in return, only the pleasure of showering your goodness and graciousness on those around me.