“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”  (I Corinthians 13:4-8a)

These timeless words penned by the apostle Paul nearly 2000 years ago are read at just about every service of Christian marriage.

Perhaps it is appropriate that we consider them once again today on Valentine’s Day, 2013.

More than one couple has remarked that these words describe an ideal that is difficult to attain, much less maintain in marriage.

Yet the apostle Paul lists them as the kind of love that is a fact of life for “children of God” who are joint-heirs with Jesus and are led by his Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:14-17)

Is such love really possible for us?

Before we answer that question, let us substitute the word “Jesus” for love. Now this passage reads:

“Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He is not rude, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Jesus never fails.”

Clearly these words aptly describe Jesus, amen?

Let’s take it one step further.

The apostle John reminds us: “As he is, so are we in this world.” (I John 4:17)

In other words, we can be like Jesus and love as He does.

If we believe this, we can read these words again, substituting “I” for “love. Try it!

“I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud. I am not rude, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs. I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. I always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere. I never fail.”

Did you do it without pausing, gulping or choking? Congratulations!

On this Valentine’s Day, if you are in a relationship of marriage or one leading to marriage, substitute the name of your beloved for “love.”

Please read this out aloud. I’ll use the name of my beloved, Sulojana.

Hear these words as coming from the mouth of Jesus about him/her.

“Sulojana is patient, Sulojana is kind. She does not envy, She does not boast, She is not proud. She is not rude, She is not self-seeking, She is not easily angered, She keeps no record of wrongs. Sulojana does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. She always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Sulojana never fails.”

Do you want to make it even more personal and powerful?

Look each other in the eye and read these words out aloud. Remember it is Jesus speaking through your voice:

“(FIRST NAME), you are patient, you are kind. You do not envy, you do not boast, you are not proud. You are not rude, you are not self-seeking, you are not easily angered, you keep no record of wrongs. You do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. You always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere. You never fail.”

Did you get emotional? Good! You’re supposed to! Jesus did 🙂

Happy Valentine’s Day, ya’ll!