‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.’ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7(NLT)
Key Verse: “…it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5b
Devotional:
From David: Love is not easily angered. As a child, I saw how men mistreated my mother. I saw irritable men take their anger out on her. But that isn’t love. Love expresses itself in a loving way. Now that I’m married, I’ve learned to say what needs to be said, let go of the anger, and enjoy the day. I’ve learned not to let one day turn into a bad life. When I am too angry to communicate on my own, I use my lifelines, whether a counselor, a pastor, or a trusted third-party listener. I now know it’s important to get to the core of my anger so I am not making my wife uncomfortable.
From Tamela: Here’s a tough one! Love keeps no record of wrongdoing. Another version of this scripture says, “Love . . . doesn’t keep score” (The Message). I can’t speak for all ladies, but many of us are guilty of tabulating in our heads how many times our husbands said something and didn’t keep his word. Sometimes we can even fall into the trap of guilting our husbands for the things we said we forgave them for. But I’ve learned to stop keeping score. If anything, I would rather keep score of the good things David does instead of rehashing the bad things. The way I see it, God loves us unconditionally, and if God can forget all the wrong we’ve done to him, surely I can do the same for my husband.
from US AGAINST THE WORLD: Biblical Love by David & Tamela Mann