Love is love. That is a phrase that has come out this century to exclaim that it doesn’t matter who you love as long as you love. One minute of critical inquiry will expose its flaws. John Stonestreet is more direct. He calls it the stupidest thing ever. It is dangerous. Love is important. Paul said so in 1 Corinthians 13 and he said it here. The kind of love Paul talks about is a sacrificial love that bears the marks of the above verses. This love is kind and patient. Verse 13 even says it is tolerant! We tolerate our failings. We don’t condone them. Central to Paul’s argument is that love is the hub from which all these marks flow from.
This is a greater love but there is a perfect love that resembles this passage. He had compassion on us and was patient. He bore with our sins and forgave us with the perfect sacrificial love on the cross. It was his love for us that is the basis for the only hope we have for joy and peace in the world. He gives us the power of the Holy Spirit so we can show these attributes of a godly life that we could in no way show by ourselves. There is one important reason to show love and compassion for others…
The Lord has forgiven you.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church