“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” —1 Corinthians 13:4-74Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4‑7).
THE “Song of Love” of 1 Corinthians 13 is recognized by all who know it as the great classic on that wonderful theme. But the love there set forth is far more than human affection. It is the outworking of the new nature, implanted by the Holy Spirit in all who are in saving relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. No man, apart from divine, enabling grace can attain to it. But where Christ dwells in the heart by faith, love is the inevitable result. It is not something that has to be pumped up, for it is not found in the unrenewed heart. It flows forth spontaneously from the inmost being of one who knows Christ and is yielded to His control.
Nothing can wear out the patience of love. It is ever kind, rejoicing in others’ blessing, and modest as to one’s own attainments.
“Beloved, let us love:
Love is of God:
In God alone hath love
Its true abode.
Beloved let us love:
For they who love,
They only are His sons.
Born from above.
Beloved, let us love:
For love is rest.
And he who loveth not,
Abides unblest
Beloved, let us love:
In love is light,
And He who loveth not,
Dwelleth in night.
Beloved, let us love:
For only thus
Shall we behold that God
Who loveth us.”
―Horatius Boner.