Love ... what does it really mean?

My husband and I recently took a course on Love. After finishing the course we realized how little we knew about/understood God's Love and acknowledged that we would never be the same as we ask God to help us love, as HE loves us.

As part of our homework, we were asked to read the scriptures and explanations below - everyday - so that little by little we would recognize when we were not operating in Love!
Wow! I encourage you to read this well known scripture with fresh eyes as we all learn to give the gift of Love ~ this season and always!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 (Amplified):

Love endures long and is patient and kind; Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; Love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is Love.

Love suffers long: I have patience with imperfect people.

Love is kind: I am active in doing good.

Love does not envy: Since I am non-possessive and non-competitive, I actually want other people to get ahead hence I do not parade myself.

Love is not puffed up: I do not treat others arrogantly; I do not behave rudely, but I display good manners and courtesy.

Love does not seek its own: I do not insist on my own rights and demand precedence; rather I am UNselfish.

Love is not provoked: I am not irritable or touchy, rough or hostile, but am graceful under pressure.

Love thinks no evil: I do not keep an account of wrongs done to me; instead, I erase resentments.

Love does not rejoice in iniquity: I do not find satisfaction in the shortcomings of others and I do not spread an evil report, rather I rejoice in the truth, aggressively advertising the good.

Love bears all things: I defend and hold other people up.

Love believes the best about others: I credit them with good intentions, and am not suspicious.

Love hopes all things: I never give up on people, but I affirm their future.

Love endures all things: I persevere and remain loyal to the end.

Love, Gods love in me, Never Fails!

Thank you, Victory Bible Training for opening our eyes!

Michelle Lord Samples
From the Heart, Christian Life Coach
www.fromtheheartlifecoach.com