Friday, February 22, 2019
1 Corinthians 13:5 . . . Love . . . does not behave rudely, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs.
DIVINE LOVE IS NOT SELF-SEEKING
St. Paul is here giving us, in effect, a "What Does This Mean?" catechism explanation of the second table of God's holy law, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
He says A-GAH-PE love does not behave rudely. That suggests good manners, doesn't it? Good manners are more than a going-through-the-motions kind of etiquette to make a good impression. Good manners show respect for the feelings of others, not running roughshod over them.
The apostle says divine love is not self-seeking. That's tied together with what has just been said. Rather than seeking one's own welfare, a child of God will seek the welfare of others.
We think again of the Savior. What was His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane? "Father, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done." To our blessing Jesus sought to do His Father's will. He ended up dying on the cross to ransom us poor sinners.
Christ-like love "keeps no record of wrongs." Divine love doesn't "keep score" of all the bad things others -- a spouse, our siblings, or friends -- may say or do to us with the intent of "pay back." Such is the way of the world, but not of God's children.
How thankful we are that God doesn't keep score of our sins. Rather, when we repent, He casts our sins in the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19) and removes them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).
Every reader of these words will confess falling far short of meeting the divine ideals of A-GAH-PE love. In spite of our sins, we rejoice to know God’s love remains unconditional and unwavering, washing us clean with the redeeming blood of His Son.
With the hymnwriter we pray and sing:
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me No thought can reach, no tongue declare;
Unite my thankful heart with Thee And reign without a rival there.
To Thee alone, dear Lord, I live; Myself to Thee, dear Lord, I give.
Oh, grant that nothing in my soul May dwell but Thy pure love alone!
Oh, may Thy love possess me whole, My Joy, my Treasure, and my Crown!
All coldness from my heart remove; My ev’ry act, word, thought, be LOVE.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 349:1-2)
