音频：
视频：
哥林多前书：13:4-7: 4爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈；爱是不嫉妒，爱是不自夸，不张狂，5不作害羞的事，不求自己的益处，不轻易发怒，不计算人的恶，6不喜欢不义，只喜欢真理； 7凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。
“凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐”，请注意，这句话的四个主要动词在希腊文原文里，用的都是现在时的时态，这表明这些态度或行为是一个人的生活方式，代表了我们所做的是一种持续不断的行为选择。这种选择对于我们堕落的本性来说是不可能的，但是只有基督能使我们做出这种选择成为可能，靠着他我们凡事都能做。
第一个动词，在这里翻译成凡事“包容，”也许翻译成凡事“遮盖”更好些。到不是说掩藏什么，而是说保护别人的秘密和隐私。我们和所有人的关系都可以看作是一种律师和客户的关系，特别是那些我们当作朋友的人。换句话说，我们不会在公开场合宣扬别人的丑事。
“凡事相信”并不是说爱就意味着轻信别人、容易受骗，不去运用智慧和洞察力等这样的优秀品格。它的意思是爱能让我们从好的角度去看待、相信别人，除非有证据证明那个人不可信。它意味着我们从最善意的角度去理解别人的言语、行为，等等。当路德在阐释第八条诫命的时候，他很好地理解了这一点。
爱就是凡事盼望。不管情况如何，爱总是寻求积极的结果。我在婚姻辅导的过程中发现，夫妻二人总是在对方身上期待最坏的结果，而他们的期望最终预言成真。当家长对孩子的行为满怀正面的期望并且让孩子知道这一点时，孩子最终会实现这样的期望。
最后，爱就是凡事忍耐。这个词的涵义是，即使身处艰难的境地，你也能保持不变。爱能让你坚持，不轻言放弃。在所有的人际关系中这是非常重要的，婚姻之所以能够长久，是因为无论撒旦在路上设置什么样的障碍，夫妻双方都决心坚持到底。
我有能力拥有这样的爱吗？从我的罪性看，我不可能有。从我的新生命看，我有这能力。感谢上帝，他每一天都赦免我的罪，并更新我的新生命。 祷告：主耶稣，请赐给我爱心，能让我包容一切，永远信靠上帝，永远期待最好的结果，从不回头，坚持到底。当我做不到的时候请赦免我，每天早晨更新我，让我的爱也再次成为新的。阿们。
1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy. It does not brag. It is not arrogant. 5 It does not behave indecently. It is not selfish. It is not irritable. It does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 It does not rejoice over unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (EHV)
Note that all four of the main verbs in this verse are present tense, indicating these attitudes/actions are to be one’s lifestyle, and thus represent a continuous choice we must make. To make such a choice is impossible for our fallen nature inherited from Adam, but only Christ-possible, in him we can do all things.
The first in this list of four, which is hear translated “bears all things,” might better be translated “covers” all things. Not in the sense of covering something up, but in the sense of keeping them private and confidential. We should have an “attorney / client” relationship with everyone, especially those we consider friends. In other words, we don’t hang out our dirty linen on Facebook or elsewhere.
“Believing all things” is not saying that love is gullible and believes everything and does not exercise qualities such as wisdom and discernment. What it means is that love will believe well of others unless convinced otherwise. It seeks to put the best possible construction on another’s words, actions, etc. Luther understand that well when he wrote the explanation to the Eight Commandment.
Love hopes all things. It always looks for the positive outcome in every circumstance. I’ve found in marriage counseling that couples often expect the worst in each other, and their expectations become a prophecy fulfilled. When parents have hopeful expectations for their children’s behavior and express that to them, they will often live up to those expectations.
Finally, love endures all things. The word has the connotation of remaining under difficult circumstances. Love sticks around. It doesn’t give up easily. Isn’t that important in every human relationship? Marriages last because we are determined to stick it out in spite of everything Satan throws our way.
Am I capable of such love? In my sinful nature, no. In my new man, yes. Thanks be to God he forgives the first and renews the second every day.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the kind of love that puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Forgive me when I fail and renew me every morning to make my love new again. Amen.