If I speak in the tongues Or languages of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13, NIV
Dear Christian,
This love passage is like a compliment sandwich. We have a few good things, followed by some things that love is not, but we wrap it up again with what love is. Love rejoices in truth is the start of that bottom (or top, depends on how you view sandwiches, I guess) layer.
This idea, love rejoices in truth, makes me think of these lyrics:
It’s so unusual it’s frightening
Known by Tauren Wells – Lyric Video
You see right through the mess inside me
And you call me out to pull me in
You tell me I can start again
And I don’t need to keep on hidin’
I’m fully known and loved by You
You won’t let go no matter what I do
And it’s not one or the other
It’s hard truth and ridiculous grace
To be known fully known and loved by You
I’m fully known and loved by You
How freeing is it to have someone know even the hard truths about you, but still fully love you? This is what God’s love is like. And this is how we should love other people. It’s not ‘I love you, but let’s not talk about the ugly stuff’ it’s ‘I love you, regardless.’
My prayer for you is that you have at least one relationship in your life that shows you a love that rejoices in truth.
Truthfully,
Ashley
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