Hello everybody, so far this blog has just been what's going on in Spain for me, but what with it being Valentine's Day I wanted to post something else instead (I'll fill you in on my trip soon, don't worry).
Valentine's Day is a day where a lot of people focus on love, with varied reactions, usually depending on what is going on in their lives at the moment. Sadly, a lot of people seek what I see to be a distorted, weak love that is all we can have and show without Christ's love in us. What then, should our love look like? I really enjoy reading 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 at this time of year, to gain a better perspective of what our love should look like, and what love we should be seeking.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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 perfection comes, the imperfect 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 childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor 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.
What love this is, and how hard it is to live out! I understand that in our broken condition we will never be able to truly live this love out, but that shouldn't stop us from trying. This is the love we should be living. This is the love we should be seeking. During this day of love (as well as the rest of the year), I sincerely hope this is the love you focus on, and that you don't settle for anything less. Strive to love fully.
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