1 Corinthians 13:7c Love hopes all things

Really? Does love hope you will get hurt or worse? No, I don’t think so. How about love hopes all things good? That makes more sense than just says love hopes all things.

If the love of God resides in your heart, you would know what it means. His love is pure. We just said yesterday that love does not think evil things, so for both to be true, love would only hope for good.

This is a prime example of why not to take verses out of context in the bible. The consistency of content is extremely important. The bible does not contradict itself no matter how much naysayers point out what they see to be contradictions. They see contradiction because the love of God does not abide in them.

I hope that they come to know the love of God. Even more accurately the love of God in me hopes to reveal itself to them.

I hope my words are received sincerely and not mocked. Once we set free the words and actions of love they are beyond our control. They will land on fertile ground or they will not. I hope they would fall on fertile ground.

Perhaps my words will soften a heart to receive the gospel. I don’t know that they will, but I hope they do. Then again if I speak the Word of God I do not have to hope for I do believe that His Word will not return without having accomplished what it was set out to do. I hope I speak His Word.

Nothing is a simple as the Gospel. I hope you understand and receive it.

Jesus died hoping you would receive Him into your heart.

He is risen to make that possible. I hope you will believe Him.

1 Corinthians 13:7b Love believes all things

This is a tough one. When I read it for the first time I just couldn’t understand how this could be true. Then I caught my two young daughters in a cat fight. As I pulled them apart the excuses for their behavior started coming out. Then I understood what God meant.

I sincerely believed that each of them believed whole heartedly in what they were saying. The whole truth wasn’t coming out, they were bitter and angry, but I believed both of them were sincere. My love for them looked past the words and actions and found no fault in either of them.

Would I prefer that they were loving and kind with one another? Yes. The family dynamic is more complicated than that. I could only love them both and pray that my love would be enough to heal the wounds. You do what you have to do in the moment to end the hostilities but you have to love them both equally or one will be treated unfairly and love doesn’t play favorites.

What about the world? It isn’t much different really. Everyone has a reason for what they say and do. Believe that they have a reason that drives their words and actions. Try and get past the obvious and get down to the motivations of the heart. That is where the wounds are, that is where love can touch a life.

Just remember that you cannot solve every problem only love can heal those wounds. Pray for them and treat them as God would.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.