Blog Archive

Monday, February 14, 2011

Classic Love, Contemporary Version

On a day when we celebrate love, I offer here a fresh look at a portion of history's classic soliloquy on love, 1 Corinthians 13, in the contemporary language of The Message paraphrase of the Bible.


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No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies ...

We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Beloved Lord, please give us a fresh vision for how to make Your great love known to those in our lives. Please empower us to love one another as You have loved us, and to love You extravagantly.

P.S. ~ I love and pray for my readers. (Which means I love you!)

Comments, questions, and respectful disagreement are welcome. Reply to BuildingHisBody.com comments, or e-mail buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.


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7 comments:

  1. Happy Valentine's Day sweet sis, love you so much.

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  2. Back at ya, woman! In church our pastor shared a verse from Eph. 3 about how God empowers us to be able to accept his love fully. Wild how we'd need Him even in the reception of love.
    ~ Wendy

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  3. Denise ~

    You and lovebug have a WONDERFUL day!

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  4. Wendy ~

    I've never gotten over the idea that He loves us. There were even those days when I felt like I couldn't receive His love. Oh marvelous grace that He enables us to do so!

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  5. I love reading the Message for a different perspective! Thanks Anne. Blessings on your day!

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  6. Mary ~

    I was privileged to meet Eugene Peterson, author of The Message, at a writers conference. He is an absolute delight! Maybe the next time I read the Bible cover to cover, I'll read his version. And blessings in abundance to you! :D Love too! ♥

    ReplyDelete

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