What Is Your Standard of Love?

I'm really enjoying reading Jerry Bridges' book The Discipline of Grace. He beautifully lays out a biblical view of the balance between discipline/obedience and grace. One aspect I've found very helpful so far is his exhortation that we not only need to "put off" sin, but we also need to "put on" Christ as well as the associated positive attributes. It's not enough to not steal; you need to be generous. It's not enough not to be angry; you need to be gracious with others.

I found this re-stating of 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 very helpful in my pursuit of loving others well (page 39):

• I am patient with you because I love you and want to forgive you.
• I am kind to you because I love you and want to help you.
• I do not envy your possessions or your gifts because I love you and want you to have the best.
• I do not boast about my attainments because I love you and want to hear about yours.
• I am not proud because I love you and want to esteem you before myself.
• I am not rude because I love you and care about your feelings.
• I am not self-seeking because I love you and want to meet your needs.
• I am not easily angered by you because I love you and want to overlook your offenses.
• I do not keep a record of your wrongs because I love you and "love covers a multitude of sins."

This is the model of love we should strive for.