Coffee With Pat
Written By: Pat Aman
copyright 2006
All rights reserved

(I Corinthians 12: 1 - 8) 1. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. In the Scriptures above Paul explains the absolute necessity of love. He defines the essence of love in 14 of its characteristics, and contrasts the eternal perfections of love, with the temporal imperfections of gifts. Paul lets us know that love is the ultimate issue behind all things. Without love the most magnificent manifestation of gifts and the most heroic self-sacrifice mean nothing. Right things must be done in the right way. Paul tells us that, "Love suffers long, having patience with imperfect people. Love is kind, active in doing good. Love does not envy; since it is non-possessive and noncompetitive, it actually want other people to get ahead, hence it does not parade itself. Love has a self-effacing quality; it is not ostentatious. Love is not puffed up, treating others arrogantly, it does not behave rudely, but displays good manners and courtesy. Love does not seek its own, insisting on its own rights and demanding precedence; rather, it is unselfish. Love is not provoked; it is not irritable or touch, rough or hostile, but is graceful under pressure. Love thinks no evil; it doesn't not keep an account of wrongs done to it; instead, it erases resentments. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, finding satisfaction in the shortcomings of others and spreading an evil report; rather it rejoiced in the truth, aggressively advertising the good. Love bears all things, defending and holding other people up. Love believes the best about others, credits them with good intentions, and is not suspicious. Love hopes all things, never giving up on people, but affirming their future. Love endures all things, persevering and reaming loyal to the end.

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