1 Corinthians 13:4–7 describes God’s kind of love. For each element below, write the verse statement, what it means in your own words, and one example of how you can show it to your partner.
Two Examples to Get You Started
v.4 — “Love is longsuffering”
Meaning: Love is not impatient or nasty. Love is not fretful or intolerant. Love is patient, willing to suffer long without retaliating. Love gives the other person space. Love is willing to wait. Love doesn’t manipulate or sinfully pressure the other person into changing.
Example: When my partner doesn’t see things the way I see them, loving him or her means I will not try to coerce agreement with me by the loudness of my voice or by threats or by being critical, silent, or by withdrawing. Love means that I will allow my partner to think differently. I will not attempt to overpower or force conforming to me.
v.5 — “Love keeps no record of wrongs”
Meaning: Love forgives even when forgiveness is not requested. Love does not stew about the past. It chooses not to remember what lies behind. Love views each day as a new day and does not allow the past to ruin it.
Example: I will not hold a grudge or refuse to forgive my partner even when he or she repeatedly is late for our dates. Instead, I will think of the way he or she smiles when he or she sees me, or how he or she prays for me or is helpful.
Now it’s your turn. Work through verses 4–7 and write your own statements, meanings, and examples — feel free to redo the two samples above with examples more specific to your own relationship.