When a Christian thinks of love, we are often drawn to 1 Corinthians 13. 

        In this famous love chapter, Paul does not try to define what love IS. 

        Instead, Paul tells us what love DOES. 

Paul didn't write these words in an ivory tower, however, 

        He wrote the words to people in conflict and strained relationships. 

        So his words are not just a sentimental goal, 

        but they are practical words that still ring true today. 

In I Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul speaks of love as a VERB. 

        A verb is not a thing; it is something we do. 

        Each one of the 16 descriptions of love in vv. 4-8 are verbs. 

        Love is not primarily an attitude of emotions, but of the will. 

There are two basic Attitudes of love. 

        First, "Love is Patient." It has a long temper. 

            This means that it doesn't seek revenge, or retaliation. 

            It keeps on suffering the "people problems" of life. 

            Do you know people with a "real problem?" 

            The irritating, unlovable, laughable, mean, etc.? 

            No Patience? NO LOVE! 

                (And that one hit me in the heart.) 

    Second, "Love is Kind." 

        Kindness is easy, when the people show gratitude towards you. 

        It becomes tough, when they take your kindness for gratitude. 

        For this reason, our love must have the hide of a rhinoceros 

        and the heart of a mother. 

    The Corinthians were being very unkind to one another, 

        but someone had to break the cycle of unkindness with love. 

        It didn't happen overnight, 

        why do you think Paul wrote II Corinthians? 

Love creates unique relationships toward other people. 

    Love does not envy, and it does not boast. 

    Love doesn't want to impress the other, but is happy with their success. 

    If you have a beautiful home, enjoy it. 

        But if you compete with others,  you will lose the joy of the beauty around you. 

    If you don't have a nice car, who cares as long as it runs? 

        Envying another person's car will not bring you joy. 

    Love is not proud or arrogant. 

            It remembers Paul's words in 4:7, 

            "What do you have that you did not receive?" 

    Love is not rude or insensitive. 

    Some people walk around like emotional terrorists. 

        As surely as that pipe-bomb went off at the olympics, 

        these people set of explosive comments in people's faces. 

        They have to say that comment, even though they know it is destructive. 

        "I see you're gaining weight." "I just wanted you to know that..." 

        "No, no, let me show you how it's done." 

        You know what I mean. 

    This kind of snide, catty, rude, insensitive behavior is evidence of bitterness. 

    It needs confession and forgiveness. 

    Only the person doing it thinks that it is necessary. 

    Love is not self-seeking, 

    but it is based on a self-less motive to build up others in Christ. 

        An advertisement once appeared in a country newspaper: 

        Farmer, age 38, wishes to meet woman, about 30, 

        who owns a tractor. Please enclose picture of tractor. 

        Now that is a real John Deere letter! 

        But it reflects the, "What can you do for me?" attitude. 

 Real love is at its essence radically "others" centered. 

        That love seeks the other person's good is evident in all the rest of the descriptions. 

     -It refuses to be easily angered, chooses to forgive, does not delight when 

        evil things happen to people, but rejoices in the truth. 

    -Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. 

    -Love never fails. 

Love is a verb, an action, and it is commanded by Jesus in John 15:12-17. 

    "My command is this: love each other as I have loved you" and later 

    "This is my commandment: Love each other." 

Love is key to all our relationships. 

    It focuses our attention on the other person, not on ourselves. 

    Without love, we accomplish nothing, profit nothing, and are nothing. 

Finally, love is God's not ours. 

    We cannot just manufacture love. It is a gift from God. 

    As we walk in the Spirit, God gives us the love we need. 

Pray today that God will help you to love. 

Let God love through you.