I know that I have shared this before, but it is so very good that I am sharing it again! We read 1 Corinthians 13 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. The very BEST translation of 1 Corinthian 13:4-8 is found in Rick Renner's Sparkling Gems From The Greek! Here it is:
The following is an expanded interpretive translation of
First Corinthians 13:4-8
Love doesn’t demand others to be like itself; rather, it is so focused on the needs of others that it bends over backwards to become what others need it to be;
Love is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with itself that it never thinks of the needs or desires that others possess;
Love doesn’t go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others;
Love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner;
Love is not rude and discourteous–it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others;
Love does not manipulate situations or scheme and devise methods that will twist situations to its own advantage;
Love does not deliberately engage in actions or speak words that are so sharp, they cause an ugly or violent response;
Love does not deliberately keep records of wrongs or past mistakes;
Love does not feel overjoyed when it sees an injustice done to someone else but is elated, thrilled, ecstatic, and overjoyed with the truth;
Love protects, shields, guards, covers, conceals, and safeguards people from exposure;
Love strains forward with all its might to believe the very best in every situation;
Love always expects and anticipates the best in others and the best for others;
Love never quits, never surrenders, and never gives up;
Love never disappoints, never fails, and never lets anyone down.”
We see above that Love never fails, but there is another Scripture that shows the extreme importance of walking in Love! Galatians 5:6 says this:
6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. AMP
So, walking in this God kind of Love causes our faith to work, in fact, our faith will NOT work without doing so! AND, walking in the God kind of Love keeps us from failing in life because Love NEVER fails! AMEN! We all make mistakes from time to time, but if we concentrate on NOT missing it where Love is concerned, then we will NOT fail! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Love Is War":
Shalom in Him!
