Ordinary Time

Pause

Love never fails when it follows God.

It is not always easy or safe. It does not always give you warm fuzzies either.

But there is fullness found in the love of God.

The awesome and terrifying thing is that God invites us to demonstrate God’s love to the world.

Let us boldly, yet humbly, enter this together.

Listen

Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Think

Athletes and musicians rely on muscle memory to practice their craft. Once the action is perfected, they spot imperfections quickly. If you want to know the power of muscle memory, rearrange all the apps on your phone screen and see how often you open the wrong app because it is in the space of the one you were looking for.

Paul is teaching the Corinthians about what love is and is not. In many ways he is suggesting to them that their behavior should be described by the words in this passage. Conversely what he is saying is that their behavior has been the opposite.

These beautiful descriptors of love are images of what love is, what it is not, and finally, what love does. Most importantly, as the people of God our lives should be characterized by a love that puts up with, trusts in, hopes for, and endures all things. This posture of love should become as natural to who we are as the muscle memory of an all-star athlete or concert pianist.

Brian Foreman

Pray

God, thank you for perfect love found in the person of Jesus the Christ. May my life be as rich in the ways of love for my neighbors and strangers as Christ first taught. Amen.

Go

You are God’s.

You are loved.

You are known.

Let God’s love speak to you.

Let God’s love be known through you.

Amen.