HOW TO LOVE

Loving others in the world around you is how you live out your faith.  To find out what this should look like is to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and replace your name in place of the world “love” in the passage.  “Patrick is patient, Patrick is kind. Patrick does not envy, Patrick does not boast, Patrick is not proud. Patrick does not dishonor others, Patrick is not self-seeking, Patrick is not easily angered, Patrick keeps no record of wrongs. Patrick does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Patrick always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Caring for others requires authenticity and vulnerability to close the gap between saying and doing.  Does your body tense in saying your name for any of these?  Those are the areas needing some work and attention.  The practice of reading this passage with your name inserted makes it personal and creates accountability and self reflection to see how you are doing, what you are doing, and what you should be doing in your daily living with others.  The results and rewards of living this way brings glory and honor to the One (Jesus) you follow; builds long term relationships that are eternally minded; and transforms you as well as those you influence [read 2 Corinthians 3:17-18].  The model to live this way is Jesus - the plumb line for our daily living [read Philippians 2:5-8].