1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Now Available feat. Kristina Meyer

Jul 10

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is now available on all streaming platforms!

THE VERSE

[4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

In a love-obsessed world, there’s very little agreement on what love actually is. Hollywood has sold us a romantic version that comes and goes like the tide. Others would say it’s simply unwavering support of one another regardless of the choices being made. But how does God define it? Does the Bible have anything to say about what love looks like in action and not just theory?

In possibly the most famous passage and description of love that’s read at weddings all across the world, the apostle Paul shares 15 practical things that love is and that love is not. Seven are stated in the positive and eight in the negative, but we’ll simply list them off in order with a short description below (each marked by a + or - based on if it’s stated in the positive or negative):

+ Love is patient - it’s long-suffering and “long-fused.”
+ Love is kind - it’s gracious even toward those who aren’t the easiest to show it to.
- Love does not envy - it’s not looking at the lives of others with jealousy.
- Love does not boast - it doesn’t brag about itself.
- Love is not arrogant - it’s not puffed up or full of oneself.
- Love is not rude - it doesn’t dishonor others or have poor manners, but is courteous.
- Love does not insist on its own way - it’s others-focused instead of self-focused.
- Love is not irritable - it is not easily angered or exasperated.
- Love is not resentful - it doesn’t walk around keeping a record of wrongs about someone.
- Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing - it doesn’t delight in evil.
+ Love rejoices with the truth - both in giving and receiving.
+ Love bears all things - it doesn’t tire of supporting and puts up with annoyances.
+ Love believes all things - it doesn’t lose faith but trusts instead.
+ Love hopes all things - its hope is never exhausted.
+ Love endures all things - it doesn’t give up.

What a magnificent and daunting list to describe love! Picture two people actually showing each other this kind of love. What might their interactions and conversations look and sound like? Their arguments? Broaden the picture a little more to where you spend your life and time. Perhaps your neighborhood, or your workplace. What might look different? Imagine those on the Internet and social media being governed by this kind of love… It almost seems too good to be true, does it not?

There’s bad news and good news. The bad news is we’re awful at showing this kind of love toward one another. The good news is that not only does Jesus embody this perfect love toward us, but He also grows us into being more loving people. Fueled and energized by His Spirit, as we abide in Him, we increasingly become like branches that naturally produce fruit of the Spirit that tastes like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and the list goes on (see Galatians 5:22). While the gifts of the Spirit are great and build up the body, love is essential in seeing these gifts practiced in healthy ways by the church and at the end of the day, love never ends. Let’s learn to receive this kind of love from God and in turn show it to all we encounter… Let’s start with those around us and who we’re in relationship with at church!

THE SONG + THE ARTISTS

Written and performed by Kristina Meyer. She shared a few thoughts with us about the process of working on this song:

Writing a song for this beautiful and well known passage was a joy, and also an exciting creative challenge. I find for myself that really familiar passages can often feel dull to the ear, so this is where the gift of music aids me: a capturing, beautiful song helps me sit in a passage and its creativity almost helps me “hear” it again for the first time.
We recorded and produced this song here in Colorado with Dave Wilton. His space is everything he is: creative, warm, cozy, and we had so much fun piecing this song together. All the small, lovely musical layers are a nod to the “all things” (v. 7) nature of love.
We hope listening to this is beautiful and meditative for you!

Kristina Meyer - Vocals
Joel Limpic - Nylon string acoustic guitar and vocals
Dave Wilton - Vocals, drums, bass, synths, piano, baritone guitar, electric guitar

Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Dave Wilton at Coalesce Studios in Lafayette, CO.