What Is Love?

Often on Fridays we listen to a song or read a piece of poetry, engaging God with a different part of our being. The poetry we’re engaging God with today is ancient. Let it sink in. Listen for the Spirit in it. Sit with it. Roll it over in your mind. Maybe read it a couple of times. Hold on to a word or an image today and take it with you into the weekend.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels,
but do not have love,
I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have prophetic powers 
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge
and have all faith so as to move mountains,
but have not love
I am nothing. 

If I give all I possess to the poor 
and give over my body to to be burned
but have not love
I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind
It does not envy, it does not boast
It is not arrogant or rude
It does not insist on its own way
It is not irritable or resentful
It keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in wrong but rejoices with the truth. 
It always protects
always trusts
always hopes
always perseveres

Love never fails

• 1 Corinthias 13:1-8