“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up” (1 Cor. 13:4).
In order to open our hearts to God and allow Him to work in our lives, we need to judge ourselves in our love toward the brethren. First, we have to find out what God’s love acts like, and then we have to make sure we are doing the same thing. Sure, it’s going to be an effort. Sure, we’ll miss it now and then. But if we don’t start endeavoring to walk in love, then we never will.
The Amplified Bible says, “Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.” Love endures long. Do we endure long with people? The Phillips translation says, “This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience.” Are we always that way?
“Love envies not, love flaunteth not itself.” The Williams translation says, “Love never boils over with jealousy.” Have we ever been jealous? That’s not love. Love doesn’t react that way.
The Phillips translation says, God’s love “is neither anxious to impress, nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.” Love never tries to impress anyone.
When we know what love acts like, we have a goal to reach toward. As we trust the greater One in us and tap into His love, which is poured out in our hearts, God will enable us to walk in love.
By the power of the Holy Ghost indwelling me, I walk in love toward people. I endure long and am patient and kind. I don’t boil over with jealousy. I’m not boastful or anxious to impress. In every circumstance, I obey the law of love.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.