“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

We often read through those verses so quickly, without even thinking about what it means or even considering how to apply it. We even see these verses used at weddings or in romance cards. But what do each of these verses really mean? What is love? What is love according to the Bible?

When the Apostle Paul wrote these words, he wasn’t recording his feelings. He was writing how love can be seen in action, played out in our daily lives. Love isn’t about how we feel. It’s about what we do. Our love is demonstrated by our actions.

To summarize these verses briefly, they describe a love that endures. A love that is long-lasting and patient. One that is kind and not envious of others. This love does not boast in an arrogant way or display itself rudely. It does not demand its own way or insist on its own rights. This love is one that does not get irritable or provoked. It also does not keep a record of being wronged. The kind of love described here does not rejoice about injustice, but rather rejoices whenever the truth prevails. It is a love that never gives up, but instead bears all things. Never losing faith, this love believes all things, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Can you imagine a love like that?! Almost seems unreal, right? That’s because we look at love from a worldly perspective sometimes. The verses here in 1 Corinthians 13 tell us of the love that can only be received and given in and through Christ.

Each of the fourteen descriptions of love in the verses above speak of the character and love of God as manifested in Christ. Do me a favor and place Jesus’ name in place of the word “love” at the beginning of each of the verses in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Why? Because Jesus IS love. And Jesus is each of those things listed. So, let’s do it together…

Christ is patient. (His love for us is long-suffering.)

Christ is kind. (His compassion is seen with everyone He meets.)

Christ is not jealous. (He is not envious, but rather He is content to do His Father’s will.)

Christ does not brag. (He is very humble and His love is unselfish.)

Christ is not arrogant. (Philippians 2:7-8 tells us He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”)

Christ does not act unbecomingly. (He is holy and He wants us to be holy and live our lives set apart from the stain of the world.)

Christ does not seek to gratify His fleshly desires. (He didn’t have to die for us. He didn’t have to include us in His plan. He didn’t need us – but He chose to bring us into His family. Jesus prays to God the Father in John 17:22 and says, “the glory which You have given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one;”)

Christ is not provoked. (He was calm when tempted in the desert and replied to His enemy with the Word of God. And He was silent before His accusers both before and leading up to, as well as during, His trial and crucifixion.)

Christ does not take into account a wrong suffered. (His love is unconditional!)

Christ does not rejoice in unrighteousness/sin. (His love is holy! John 2:15 tells us how Jesus responded to sinful behavior in God’s house. He “made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers, and overturned their tables;”)

Christ rejoices with the truth. (His Word is truth.)

Christ bears all things. (His supporting love carries the weight of our burdens!)

Christ believes all things and hopes all things. (This speaks of His expecting love and trusting love!)

Christ endures all things. (He has an unchanging love that never fails! Heb. 12:2 tells us to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” And John 13:1 says, “…Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”)

Whew! What a list, huh?! So now let’s check our own spiritual maturity. Go back through those verses and place your own name in front of each of those descriptions. Can the same be said of you? Are those true and honest sayings of yourself? Or do you have some areas that need improvement? Are you patient? Are you kind? No one is perfect so of course we will not get it right every time. But what we can do is ask the Lord to help us to be more like Him and His love so we can love others the way we should. Because God is love, He is the One who helps us love others. We couldn’t love if it weren’t for Him. He gives us the capacity to love and He gives us the desire.