Paul had been talking about unity in the church. How can we who are so different from each other become a community that works together effectively and powerfully to embody the kingdom of heaven on earth where God reigns in peace and joy? To answer this, Paul writes a beautiful ode to love.

The kind of love Paul writes of is agape love, which is less of a feeling and more of an intentional act. This definition of love is attributed to God’s very nature (1 Jn 4:8). We must intentionally love others by accepting others as they are, without judgment. This is hard because often we are not rooted in God’s love. We can only love when we experience and accept God’s love for us.

The more you practice loving others, the more your soul sings and creates a beautiful synergy of connection that builds each other up. Love is never selfish but always in connection with God and others. We are created to love and to be loved and without love, no matter how talented, faithful, or powerful we are, we gain nothing.
Application: Lord, your love sees us as we truly are and embraces us with tender mercy. May we love others in the same way.
One Word: Love one another