Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Continuing the lesson on love, Paul emphasizes “it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth”. We know that as humans we have a problem with the truth. Pilate asked Jesus “what is truth?” (John 18:37). We know that everything Jesus said and did reflects the truth of God, and this demonstrates love in its purest form. I saw something posted on Facebook the other day with a warning that said “this statement could be misleading”. This is an unfortunate part of our history, beginning with the Fall – Satan used half truths and some whoppers to tempt us into disobedience (Genesis 3:1-4). We must remember that love needs only the truth, not innuendo or allegation or flat out lies. At a time in our world when truth is at a premium, we are called to share God’s love through truthful living.
Patient God, we are sorry for the way we deal loosely with the truth. Forgive our false words and acts and make us part of Your plan, going to the world in Your name. Amen.
