Charity (love) is Commanded

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV)

The 15 Characteristics of love or charity:

1.   Suffers long: that is it is patient

2.   Is kind: gentle, considerate, compassionate

3.   Does not envy:  does not desire others possessions or abilities, is not jealous

4.   Does not parade itself: does not boast or brag

5.   Is not puffed up:  is not filled with pride, is not arrogant 

6.   Is not rude: is not disrespectful

7.   Is not seeking its own, not self centered

8.   Is not provoked, slow to anger

9.   Thinks no evil, keeps no record of wrongs, does not hold grudges

10. Does not rejoice in iniquity, grieved by sin

11. Rejoices in the truth, is glad when truth prevails

12. Bears all things, protects and is patient with others

13. Believes all things, trusting (this is a problem for a skeptic like me)

14. Hopes all things, positive in attitude

15. Endures all things, perseveres, puts up with problems

Paul sort of sums this up by saying: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV)

The Questions?

Could we replace the word love in the description of love above with THE LORD?  YES!

Could we replace the word love with “I”? Probably not!

And yet, the Lord says,  “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12 NKJV).” Not only are we to love one another (likely that means that we love other disciples of the Lord), but we are to love our neighbor, people that we don’t invite to Sunday dinner as in the parable of the Good Samaritan:  So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’?” (Luke 10:27 NKJV)

No wonder we all have “fallen short of the glory of God.”  No wonder we need to be saved.  Thank God for His love!

Bruce Collins

Meditation for the week of September 24, 2025

If you would like further conversation about the issues in these meditations, contact me at collinsbd@yahoo.com and I will try to accommodate you with a virtual Bible Study.