1 Corinthians 13:5a Doth not behave itself unseemly

Let me begin by saying love is a behavior. Maybe you have a memory of your mother saying “Behave yourself.” She caught you in a behavior that needed to change, so she was correcting you. I get it.

Last night we had a profound discussion about who we are in Christ and out of that conversation came a central point of behavior. “How can I love another if I do not love myself?” It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard the thought. I slept on it and this is what came to me this morning.

We are what we practice, we are what we see ourselves doing. It is not unlike a child’s attitude about himself, that image of self. We place children in activities to allow them to practice. They do not start out being dancers, or ball players, or musicians. Even the most gifted have to practice the fundamentals. Practice builds experience, experience builds confidence, confidence acts.

Why should charity be any different? You will not see yourself as being charitable if you do not act. Nothing I am saying is about being charitable, it is about how you feel about yourself. I can encourage you all day long but only you can practice those things that tells yourself you have changed.

No one asks for prayer to be more loving without first seeing in themselves a behavior which is not in line with how love acts as it is described in 1 Corinthians 13. This is how love behaves. I do not do that, so I am not a loving person. They only way to change that self-image is practice. You may not be good at it to begin with but trust me, God honors effort.

Read and understand how love acts in the love chapter of the bible and know how to act. That is the first step. Recognize acts that tell yourself to behave, that is step two. Change the behavior, that is step three. With practice you will grow more confident in your ability to love and then love will grow in your heart for others out of who you are in Christ.