“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (I John 4:8).

True love, God’s kind of love, is defined in the great love chapter, I Corinthians 13. Thus, it is instructive to see how He exhibited the love He expects us to show.

“Charity suffereth long” (13:4). “The Lord . . . is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). “And is kind” (13:4). “I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:24). “Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up” (13:4). God has no need to boast. What He is and who He is boasts itself: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). “Seeketh not her own” (13:5). Jesus also said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me” (John 6:38). Furthermore, love “is not easily provoked” (13:5). “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 103:8). “Thinketh no evil” (13:5). “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). “Rejoiceth not in iniquity” (13:6). “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness” (Psalm 5:4).

“Beareth all things” (13:7). “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). “Endureth all things” (13:7). “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (I Peter 2:21). “Charity never faileth” (13:8). “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). CJH