The Apostle Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is arguably the most famous and beautiful passage in the Bible. It sets an impossibly high standard, a divine blueprint for how we should interact with the world.
But have you ever truly paused to consider what this passage is demanding of you? It’s easy to read the words “Love is patient, love is kind…” and nod along, applying it to marriage, family, or humanity in general. It becomes a lovely, abstract poem.
Today, I challenge you to make it personal.
The Ultimate Character Test
Paul writes in verses 4-8:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
Here is the challenge: Take out the word “Love” and put your own name in its place.
If you read the passage that way, does it describe the person you were yesterday? Is it the person you are striving to be today?
For example, if your name is Sarah, it reads:
• “Sarah is patient, Sarah is kind.”
• “Sarah does not envy, Sarah does not boast…”
This simple substitution transforms a beautiful ideal into a stark, personal audit of your character. It moves the passage from theology to biography.
• When was the last time you were truly patient with someone who annoyed you?
• Do you keep a hidden list of grievances against a family member or coworker, or do you truly keep no record of wrongs?
• Do you rejoice with the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, or do you find yourself delighting in the misfortune (the “evil”) of others?
This exercise isn’t meant to make you feel guilty, but to provide a clear, actionable roadmap for growth. None of us can perfectly embody this description, but it reveals the areas where we need to focus our spiritual and personal energy.
Love is not just a feeling; it is a verb, a relentless series of choices. Use this challenge to identify the next choice you need to make to become a kinder, more patient, and more persevering version of yourself.
What does your 1 Corinthians 13 look like? Let us know which line challenged you the most in the comments!
Application for Aaron
Here is the 1 Corinthians 13 passage (verses 4-7) with every instance of “Love” replaced by the name Aaron:
Aaron is patient, Aaron is kind. Aaron does not envy, Aaron does not boast, Aaron is not proud.
Aaron does not dishonor others, Aaron is not self-seeking, Aaron is not easily angered, Aaron keeps no record of wrongs.
Aaron does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Aaron always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
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