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.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 New International Version
Why are these so important? “Loving well is the goal of the Christian life.” (From the book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero.
Christianity is different from other religions for many reasons. One of which is the way we love. God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place. To die for our mistakes. Jesus loved us so much that He freely gave His life as an exchange for ours. We love so that others feel the love of God through us. It is our mission to share the love of God with the world. Loving well is our goal as followers of Christ. Mike Mason who authored the book, Practicing the Presence of People, states “we are not born with love; it is something we must learn.”
If we don’t love well, it not only affects our ministry (in our home, on the jobs, in our community, to our family and friends, strangers we need to impact), but we will also be easily offended, hurt, defensive, critical, judgmental, and withdrawn.