Read: 1 Corinthians 13: 7

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Reflect:

There is always one person who is an embarrassment to their family in public. To my kids, I am known to joke around with servers at restaurants – especially if they only speak a little English. I talk to strangers in elevators. In general, I can be quite an embarrassment at times.

Take a look at the short passage above. At each end of the verse we see that Christian love is intended to bear and then endure all things. Godly love means much more than just bearing with the annoying people in your family who may embarrass you in public. I know that I have caused deeper pain at times in my own family and, in turn, I have expreienced family pain as well. Each of our families face or will face difficult times and we may be tempted to give up – to throw in the towel, but we are called to endure.

Respond:

How are we to respond? We are to bear each others’ burdens. In love we are to carry the load of family.

Paul tells us more. We are to believe all things. Now we don’t believe a lie, but we believe in those we love. We look for the best. We don’t give up. And when belief is difficult we continue to hope in all things. We have a confidence that comes from God. He is not surprised by our circumstances. He is in control and is the ultimate reason for our hope.