Love. The Lifestyle.

Often, I read the 1 Corinthians 13 passage as this great love passage that is to be shared with my future wife. This morning was different though!

This morning, I read it and was convicted. I want to live a life of love! 

1 Cor. 13:4-13

"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.

Love never fails. 

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

It is so easy to love those you want to love. What about the people you don't see eye to eye with on things, the individuals that cause you to go crazy, or the person that has it out for you? 

There are people in your life that need a positive influence, a friend, or just someone that can listen. We pass them by everyday, work with them, and maybe even live with them. When we choose not to love those around us, we are choosing to ignore the hurt, need, and desire for hope. People are in need of being loved, and God is love. If we are filled with God, we should have the desire to love those around us. Will we fail? Absolutely! But instead of using that as an excuse not to impact those around us, it should push us to love more. 

How often do you feel the need, or desire, to be loved? I know that I, a young man, desire to be loved or shown love often. 

I want to be a world changer, and I am only going to do that by being the love God gives me. I encourage you to think of a couple people in your life that you could show love too, and I will be too. It doesn't mean you have to be best friends, but maybe you could make a positive difference in their life. 

Love is not just an emotion. Love is a lifestyle. Live a lifestyle of love today!