Communion and Love: A Believer’s LifestyleSample

Active love

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Are you a loving person? God tells us that if we don’t have love, we have nothing. Love is supremely important. Not love in theory, not the feeling of love, but love in real life. Concrete love. Active love. Sacrificial love.

Do you have that? Do you have love? Assess yourself before God. Ask God to show you your heart.

“Love is patient.” I am not harsh or irritable. I don’t yell or raise my voice. I’m easy to live with and easy to work with. I’m patient.

“Love is kind.” I am thoughtful and considerate. I speak with a gentle voice, not a harsh or abrasive one. I smile at people. I build people up, not tear them down. I am kind.

“Love does not envy.” I am not jealous of others. I am not in competition with others. I am content and secure with who I am. I want the best for others. I do not envy.

“Love does not boast.” I don’t seek attention. I don’t practice name-dropping. I don’t have to be the center of conversation. I don’t tell others what I’ve accomplished. I do not boast.

“Love is not arrogant.” I’m not proud or conceited. I don’t think I’m better than others, including people who work menial jobs or people who are homeless. I understand that any good in me is a gift. I’m not arrogant.

“Love is not rude.” I’m sensitive to the feelings of others. I treat people with respect and courtesy. I don’t use a cutting, harsh tone of voice. I am not rude.

“Love does not insist on its own way.” I don’t insist on my way or my preferences. I easily defer and submit to others. I’m not a control freak. I look for opportunities to serve people and not control them. I don’t insist on my way.

“Love is not irritable.” I’m not touchy, defensive, overly sensitive, or easily offended. People don’t walk on eggshells around me. It’s hard to make me angry. I’m not irritable.

“Love is not resentful.” I forgive quickly. I don’t hang on to grudges and nurse grievances. I don’t grow bitter at those who have hurt me. I am overwhelmed by God’s forgiveness and so I gladly extend grace to others. I am not resentful.

“Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” I am not secretly glad when people around me have setbacks or failures. I don’t gossip about the problems of others. I genuinely want the best for people. I’m glad when my friends thrive. I don’t rejoice in wrongdoing but I rejoice in the truth. 

That’s it. That’s love. How did you do? Do you love people? Does this matter? Oh yes, it matters. It matters more than anything else, for unless we love in this way, whatever else we have going for us will not matter. For love—active, concrete, real life, sacrificial love—is the greatest thing in the world.