My husband frequently states: “I can’t wait until tomorrow.” Many who hear that statement will be hooked and ask: “What happens tomorrow?” His reply is: “I get better looking every day.”
The responses to his news vary. Some think he is full of himself, puffed up and arrogant. Others laugh because it seems impossible, after all day-by-day we grow older and with the aging process comes wrinkles, paunches, and reduced stamina. Those who consider such a statement personally can’t seem to connect. They see physical and character flaws that aren’t very flattering.
Yet the beauty he references isn’t in the physical realm but the spiritual realm. As God’s Word permeates our hearts and minds, we do get better looking.
2 Cor 3:18–So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. NLT
We begin to reflect Jesus as we gain clarity on Biblical characteristics, especially agape love. We are told in Romans 5:5 that God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. But until we understand what it looks like we don’t always walk it out. The Holy Spirit gave us clarity in the book of 1 Corinthians.
1 Cor 13:4-7–Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ESV
We are told that love is patient, sometimes translated from the Greek makrothumeo as longsuffering. Patient love seeks to understand others, and endures behavior that might be inconsiderate or selfish. It doesn’t issue ultimatums— “Just one more time!” It doesn’t stomp out of the room exclaiming, “That’s it, I have had enough!”
The kindness Paul speaks of is chresteuomai in the original Greek, which is a desire to help or assist people. It complements patience or long-suffering because it stands beside the person ever ready to do good regardless of how he or she is treated.
While Paul provides two characteristics that exhibit agape, he lists six characteristics that show its absence. It does not envy, meaning we do not desire what another person has in talent, fortune, or personality traits.
At the opposite spectrum from wishing you possessed attributes or material goods belong to another, which is envy, is boasting about our abilities as if we are better than others. It is difficult to connect with people if we think we have more education, are more sophisticated, fashionable, and knowledgeable than they are. Because agape love is not arrogant, we make no distinctions between ourselves and others. When we do we can become rude, mistreating and dishonoring others.
This love does not insist on having its own way, which is the opposite of desiring to please others. Of course, when we don’t get our own way, we become downcast resenting the other person who received the grade, job, raise, house, homelife, family, or lifestyle we desire because it just isn’t fair. Often when we are resentful, we hold a grudge and if given the chance can rattle off a long list of grievances. Perhaps this tally we keep when we are resentful is the reason this concept is translated “keeps no records of wrongs” in some Bible versions.
It does not seek or rejoice over the misfortune of others or try to harm them but instead stands in the gap for another to prevent such unrighteous acts from happening to them. Instead of pushing someone in front of a train, we are willing to step onto the tracks to push a stranger to safety.
Finally, when we exhibit agape love we bear, believe, hope, and endure all things. In the New Testament to bear is “to cover over in silence,” therefore love does not expose the faults of others, nor does it dwell on them.
We don’t point fingers and tattle. Other people’s problems, weaknesses, or vulnerabilities are not a topic for conversation with others. We believe in this person, that he or she can change for the better, and therefore we wait expectantly for our Heavenly Father to do a great work and we don’t give up.
1 Corinthians 13:8 begins with the words “Love never fails.” It’s long lasting, and what it produces will last as well.
Look forward to tomorrow. But don’t check a mirror for your progress as the sun rises to mark a new day. Instead, check the reaction of the people God puts in your path to determine if they see Jesus in you.
©2024 Susan Cort Johnson *All Rights Reserved
Image is from Pixabay.