1 Corinthians 13:4 - Do We Know What Love Looks Like?

1 Corinthians 13:4

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians addresses a church struggling with division, jealousy, pride, and selfishness. In the middle of correcting these problems, Paul pauses to explain something they desperately needed to understand: love.

He writes, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

Why did Paul need to explain love to Christians? Perhaps they had become so concerned with spiritual gifts, knowledge, and religious accomplishments that they had lost sight of how they were supposed to treat one another. They knew what arguing and selfishness looked like, but their behavior suggested they did not understand what love should look like.

We can make the same mistake. We may know the Bible, defend the truth, and faithfully fulfill our religious responsibilities while failing to demonstrate patience and kindness toward others. We can be right in what we say but wrong in how we say it. Paul reminds us that even impressive spiritual accomplishments cannot substitute for love (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).

Love becomes especially difficult when people disappoint us, disagree with us, or treat us unkindly. Yet these are precisely the moments when our love becomes visible. Biblical love does not ignore wrongdoing, because Paul says love “rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Love stands for what is right without abandoning patience, kindness, and humility.

Thankfully, God has not left us to guess what love looks like. Jesus demonstrated it through His compassion, service, and sacrifice on the cross. He did not merely tell us that God loves us; He showed us.

Now we must show that love to others. What does my family experience when I am frustrated? How do I respond when someone disagrees with me? Do my words and actions reflect the character of Christ?

Paul’s words challenge us to examine ourselves rather than simply evaluate others. Before responding in anger, we can choose patience. Before speaking harshly, we can choose kindness. These ordinary decisions reveal whether love is merely something we talk about or something that truly shapes our lives.

God has shown us what love looks like. If someone judged Christian love by watching our lives, would they recognize it?

Romans 14:13 - The Bible Is An Onion

Romans 14:13

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Have you ever noticed that the Bible is a little like an onion? You peel back one layer, you find another underneath… and then another. What seems simple at first, more often than not, opens up in a richer and more meaningful way.

In Romans 14:13, Paul writes, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” “Stumbling block” comes from the Greek word skandalon, and it sounds like just some obstacle in the way. Peel back that layer, though, and you find something much more serious.

Skandalon originally referred to the trigger of a trap—the part that causes it to snap shut. So it isn’t just about someone tripping as they walk—it’s about something that can actually trap or harm another person spiritually. 

And when you start to see that, it naturally connects with what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:9: “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” Paul is talking about Christian freedom—things that may be permitted—but he’s urging us to think beyond ourselves.

That’s where another layer comes in.

John 14:15 - What Motivates You?

John 14:15
“If you love me, you will obey what I command..”

Parents hope their children will love them -- and not just love them -- but obey them, too.

Our parents knew that most of our problems with disobedience came from a lack of attention -- we would get distracted -- enticed -- tired.

When we got off the track, they would apply a remedy to remind us -- a gentle swat on the bottom -- a measure of time set off to ourselves -- an undesirable chore to do. You know what worked with you!

John 13:34-35 - Love Sets Us Apart

John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Did you know that corporations spend millions of dollars every year just to keep their names, images, and reputations from being confused with someone else?

Trademarks, copyrights and patents are all designed to help a company control and distinguish itself form others, and they are vigilantly guarded against infringement.

“Aspirin,” “Kerosene,” “Linoleum,” “Videotape” and “Zipper” were once trademarks, but because of a lack of diligence to protect these names from misuse, (or in the case of Aspirin, the spoils of World War I,) they have become generic terms for many similar products.

Luke 2:5 - Joseph: A Good Father

Luke 2:5
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

How little credit we give to Joseph. He had to be a man of great faith, discipline and love. In a time when such things were not acceptable, he was seen as a man who had had sex with a woman before they were married.