5does not behave rudely, [simple_tooltip content=’1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.’](1 Corinthians 13:1-13)[/simple_tooltip]
One of the biggest lies the devil ever sold us is that love is an overpowering feeling that cannot be controlled. However, God’s kind of love never acts in an inappropriate way. Greek scholar Fritz Rienecker says, “Unseemly means to behave indecently or in a shameful manner.” God’s love is tactful and does nothing that would raise a blush.
People who are so overwhelmed with love that they just can’t control themselves, aren’t overwhelmed with God’s love at all. That unseemly love is devilish. It’s selfish and full of lust. The old line, “We just love each other so much that we can’t control ourselves,” is more accurately rendered, “We are so full of lust that we can’t control ourselves.”
Understanding this will shine the light of truth on many of the lies Satan brings our way. Any time we are smitten with feelings for someone other than our mate, it is not God’s kind of love. His love will never act contrary to His Word. God’s kind of love will never leave us either. Anytime we feel like love is gone, all that really happened is that lust has gone. God’s kind of love never fails. (1 Cor. 13:8)
Ask the Lord to help you redefine what true love is-on His terms, not yours. Start with the assurance that His kind of love is not a rush of hormones that’ll get you in trouble! His love will bring peace and abundant life.
