Love is really hard to adequately define, but in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul gives one of the best definitions I’ve ever seen. He accomplishes this masterful definition by describing love the way one might describe a person — not what they are wearing or how tall they are, but what they are like and how they behave.

Paul describes what that person called “Love” would do and what they wouldn’t do.

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant,”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬

This works perfectly as a definition because love actually is a person. Love is God, and God is love.

Without God there is no love. A universe without God is also a universe devoid of love.

God created everything from the depths of His love. That love blossomed and bore fruit. It filled the dark and empty void with life and light.

God’s love is still bearing fruit today. It is infinite and always available. The darkness keeps trying but can’t overcome it.

To push back the darkness in my corner of the world, all I need to do is love.

How do I love?

Back to the definition: God is love. To love, I just need to be like God and do what He does. God is patient. God is kind. God does not envy, is not boastful or arrogant…

Dear God,

I am so grateful for your love that created the world and everything in it, including me. Teach me how to be like you, how to love. I’m sorry for falling back on my own selfish desires instead of continuing to reach for your love. Remind me of the basics of love so deftly described here in the Bible as I interact with people today.