“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 NASB
“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 NASB
LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 NASB
“You forgave the iniquity of your people, You covered all their sin.” Psalm 85:2 NASB
How does Jesus lead the way?
- Jesus patiently bore the weakness, faithlessness, and brokenness of the disciples in relationship with him.
- Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus covers my sin.
How does this change the way I engage with God?
- I can approach God with confidence, knowing that Jesus has covered all my sin.
- I can bear up under disappointments, frustrations, and trouble without losing hope, because Jesus goes before me.
How does this change the way I love others?
- I can bear up under the frustrations, brokenness, and offenses of others.
- I can cover over the offenses of others.
LOVE BELIEVES ALL THINGS
“The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word.” Proverbs 14:15 MSG
How does Jesus lead the way?
- In His humanity, Jesus believed the Father until the very end.
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.” Luke 23:46 NIV
How does this change the way I engage with God?
- Because Jesus has already shown me that I can trust Him in the very worst situations, I can believe God’s promises in all circumstances.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV
How does this change the way I love others?
- I will believe the best of others.
LOVE HOPES ALL THINGS
“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” Romans 8:24, 25 NASB
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 NASB
How does Jesus lead the way?
- Jesus loved Peter and hoped for his restoration even as He knew that Peter would deny Him.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31 NIV
How does this change the way I engage with God?
- I can hope in God regardless of my current circumstance.
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5 NIV
- I can be hopeful that God is working in EVERY situation for His glory and my good.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV
How does this change the way I love others?
- I can choose to never consider someone a lost cause.
- I can hope for the best outcome for others.
LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS
How does Jesus lead the way?
- Jesus endured the physical and emotional torment of his trial.
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John 13:1 NIV
“Father, forgive them. They know not what they are doing” Luke 23:34 NASB
How does this change the way I engage with God?
- I can endure in any circumstance without losing hope or doubting God.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38,39 NIV
How does this change the way I love others?
- We remain in difficult situations for the sake of others.
- We suffer with patient endurance for the sake of others.