"The Love Challenge"

By: Zach Wood

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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, and always perseveres.

 

 

While attending Bible college, I attended each a small chapel session with other classmates each Friday morning.  One of those mornings, the professor read this passage in a way I've never read it before.  As he read through the passage, he went on to explain how Christ's love is so far beyond ours.  He challenged us to read it through in a new way, this time replacing the words "love" and "it"(referring to love) with our own name.  As he explained the passage that time, it really hit home with me and brought a new light to the words.  When I read through it again, it didn't take me long to say, "Nope, that isn't me".  I tried putting my name before all the adjectives, but my heart was breaking because I knew I wasn't living those adjectives.  It was a love challenge I had never considered before and will remain with me for the rest of my life.  And now, I'm passing it on in this devotional.

 

How many of us could replace those words with our name and get through this passage as a truthful statement?  Most of us probably cannot.  We can be thankful, however, that Christ did set the model of true love, even though it's extremely hard to live by.  Can we be perfect in our love to others all the time and never mess up?  Most likely no.  We are sinners and nowhere near perfect.  However, you may know some people who always seem to have a loveable spirit about them.  They are "love" to anyone they meet.  However, even those people sometimes slip up and become unlovable to others.  It happens to all of us.

 

As I was reading this passage for my devotional the other morning, I thought about the challenge that my college professor gave us that day in chapel and I feel more challenged to really live it.  It's pretty hard many days as I find myself making excuses and justifications as to why I shouldn't have to love others.  In my mind and heart, I justify their attitude, language, and treatment toward me as very good reasons to avoid them or not talk to them much.   Then I feel the usual tug of Christ in my heart saying, "Hey, I died for them, too you know!"  After too many opportunities pass by, my heart breaks knowing Christ wants me to be love to them.  As I stated in my last devotional, the Great Commission is all about showing Christ's love to a lost world.  If we are not going to show that love, how can people know about Him personally instead of just knowing of Him?

 

We all have a love challenge, don't we?  The love challenge is not directed only toward those who don't know Christ, but also those who are close to us.  They need to see His love shining through us.  It's challenging when you're having arguments with your spouse.  It's challenging when you find yourself losing patience and raising your tone with your kids after a stressful day at work.  It's challenging when you find yourself bickering with your co-workers about work situations.  Loving is a challenge many times.  Do we find ourselves winning with Christ or losing with the enemy?  

 

After becoming a dad 2 months ago, I have found myself facing challenging love situations.  Whether it's work, life, things we need to do around the apartment, or our plans for the week, I sometimes find myself losing the loving touch with my wife and daughter.  Yes, I love them both so dearly, but the enemy still works to get me frustrated so that I'm not loving.  I am constantly reminded that I am the spiritual leader of this family and I'm responsible to set a Godly example for my wife and daughter.

 

What's your love challenge?  What areas in your life do you see yourself needing some improvement?  In what areas do you find yourself succeeding?  Keep it up!  Most of us probably see many areas where we really need to improve.  In the times of love challenges, we need to remember all that Christ has done for us.  Let's stay strong through our love challenges.