1 Corinthians 13:4-7 lays out God's definition of this kind of love:
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.
Loving others isn't about warm fuzzy panda bear hugs. It's about selfless dedication to benefiting others in all of life. Being patient when people are difficult. Abandoning concern for what you have/don't have. Abandoning pride. Keeping no ledger for other people's sins against you. Delighting in the truth. Protecting, trusting, and giving others the benefit of the doubt. It's about persevering even though this type of lifestyle is insanely hard.*
*This type of lifestyle is actually impossible, which is where Jesus comes in. More on this next post.
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