Let’s Talk About Love: What IS Love? Page 6 – Characteristics
1 Corinthians 13:6 (Amplified) says, [Love] does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].” I cannot tell you how many times I see people rejoice in others’ pain and suffering. We are not supposed to condemn others or be happy when someone who may have hurt us is also hurt. Matthew 5:43-44 (Amplified) says (Jesus is speaking here), “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who prosecute you.”
Wow! That’s a big pill to swallow! It’s hard enough sometimes to be good to friends and family, much less enemies – but that’s exactly what Jesus is asking us to do! Goodness is another fruit we will explore later. We must, if we love God, be good even to those who hurt us.
1 Corinthians 13:7-8 (Amplified) says, “Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].”
The Modern language translation says, “[Love] bears everything in silence, has unquenchable faith, hopes under all circumstances, endures without limit. Love never fails.”
Love is perfect. When I read these verses, I am drawn to the picture of a mother hen who has succumbed to a fire, but when her body is turned over by the farmer, he finds all of her chicks there beneath her wings, safe and sound. She has sacrificed herself to save her babies. How much more our savior Jesus!
Again, love is perfect! We alone are not perfect, but we do have God’s love inside of us – and we have enough of it to change our lives into ‘lovely’ lives! Now that you have a good idea about what love IS, let’s begin to see what God’s love is!