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.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Loving
someone is hard. It doesn't take a great deal of imagination to realize
that being patient, kind (not boasting, not dishonoring, etc.) is
really, really hard. Because this doesn't happen in a bubble. In day to
day life, this means washing the dishes. Again. It means being faithful
to a husband or wife, even when they have broken certain promises,
denied trust, or simply been unkind. Love means protecting a friend,
even if it hurts, or puts you on the line. Love means choosing to hope
for the best, pray for best, and seek the best of another, even when the
world tells you that is crazy.
But are we capable of this? No. Of course not! To think
so is just silly. If we believed ourselves to be good, kind, generous,
and humble all on our own... well that would be a mistake. A big one.
When we fail at doing these things -we pick a fight because we are in a
bad mood, we avoid a difficult situation with a friend, or we simply
shut ourselves off from those who need us- we are simply being our
fallen, sinful selves. We have forgotten that the story starts and ends
with Jesus. Jesus is the one who lives in our hearts and makes it a
happy home. Jesus is the only one who can soften our prideful heart and
make us to weep with those who mourn, even when we just don't feel like
it. Jesus gives us compassion, hope, and courage to do that which is
right. Jesus gives us wisdom, strength, and the ability to die to
ourselves.
Jesus is the reason we can
love the poor. He is also the reason we can love the somewhat
frustrating person on the church committee, the emotionally needy lady
who sits next to us in church, and the man who won't quit asking for
money every time he sees you on the corner of 4th and broad. You are not
a good person. You are not even an alright person. But Jesus is patient
(with you) and he is kind (with you). And guess what? We can celebrate
our massive failures because Christ lives in you (and me) and equips
you... to be just like Him!
