Love

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

I Corinthians 13:4-7

When I read these verses, I realize how much I fall short. I am not perfect by ANY means (just in case some of you maybe thought i was...I am now publicly declaring that I am not perfect :P). I am so self-centered. I want things to go my way, and I become impatient and irritable when they don't (the exact opposite of love). I don't want to serve others; I want them to serve me. Yet, at the same time, I know that Jesus wants me to be patient. To serve others. To be understanding. I want to do what's right, but sometimes I do the exact opposite. It's like what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:

"I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (verse 15)

and again,

"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me." (verses 18-20)

Jesus is continually at work in me. He is continuing to perfect me until His second coming. And although it is an agonizingly slow process, God has a lot to teach me on the way. It reminds me of that one song that goes like this:

"He's still working on me,

To make me what I oughta be.

It took Him just three days to make the moon and stars,

The Sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars.

How loving and faithful He must be,

'Cause He's still working on me!"

My love for others will never even be CLOSE to perfect until I reach heaven. But just remember that God's love for us will ALWAYS be perfect. No matter how much we mess up, He will always be there loving us.

Keep your focus on Jesus and He will guide you through each day!

Christi Joy