Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a HCSB

1 Corinthians 13 is often referred to as the love chapter. It begins by telling us we are nothing without love. Then it explains what Biblical love really is. Love is probably the most overused word in the English language. When we really like something we profess that we love it. When we are in lust we are sometimes confused into thinking we are in love. But in this chapter of the Bible it gives you a guideline for what love really is. It also tells you what love is not.

Often times we enter into a relationship hoping to change the other person into what we want them to be. We hope that they will conform to our way. But our scripture passage tells us that true, Biblical love is not selfish.

Opposites attract is a proven fact and often times I think that we fall into love because we envy the qualities that the other person possesses that we don’t, but wish we did. But our scripture passages tells us that love does not envy.

Maybe I’m the only one on the planet who is this way, but when I am mad I can become impatient and mean. I can spew words like venom. I have really tried to get better at that over the years and I think I have improved some, but I still lash out at times when I am really angry. But, our scripture passage tells us that love is patient and kind. It tells us that love is not boastful or conceited, but I must admit that there are times when I pat myself on the back because I think I do it the right way.

Why do we tend to give in to temptations when we know that the end results will be disastrous? Our scripture passage tells us that love does not act improperly, is not provoked and finds no joy in unrighteousness. We need to remember this.

Men, you know that women never forget. You know that if you enter into an argument with us you are subject to be reminded of wrongs you committed 20 years prior. But, our scripture passage says that true, Biblical love does not keep a record of wrongs. We should replace wrongs committed with this scripture passage in our memories.

Our scripture passage tells us that love rejoices in the truth, it bears all things, it believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.

If you are madly in love and on top of the world this Valentine’s Day, then congratulations, but remember what goes up must come down. There will be rocky times. How you come through it will depend on your love for Christ. Yep, your love for Christ. If you are in a right relationship with Christ, you can be victorious through Him who loves us (Romans 8:37).

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want superficial love this Valentine’s Day. I want real, true, Biblical love. I want a love that is patient and kind and rejoices in truth and bears all things and endures all things. I know that through Jesus Christ, I can have this kind of love. You can too. I know that I can love like that. Turn to Him today. Trust in Him. Believe that He can do all things and that you can do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13).

Maybe you are with the love of your life and if so, I am happy for you. But, if you are alone and feeling lonely, know that you are never alone. Know that God is with you wherever you go. He carries a deep love for you that you may never even be able to comprehend. He loves you no matter what with the love that our scripture passage speaks of. He wants you to reciprocate. What are you waiting for? I challenge you today to reread our scripture passage and love like that!

Have a very Happy Valentine’s Day!