“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Corinthians 13:4)

When it comes to love, there is no better example to mirror than our beloved savior Jesus. He was patient, with all, but especially with the twelve that He selected. As young men from all different paths of life, they had no academic or theological training, yet Jesus impressed on them incredibly difficult and challenging ideas and philosophies. And when they, or the crowds listening, didn’t understand Him Jesus poured into them even more. Jesus was kind, even to the point of washing the feet of the man who would ultimately betray Him. Knowing the heart of Judas, his deceitfulness, and the betrayal to come, Jesus treated him no different than any of the others that night. Jesus knew His own destiny. He knew what His mission was – to die on a cross for the sake of all mankind. And with that being the case, Jesus never wished to transfer His “cross” to anyone else. He was never envious of the simple people around Him. Those who were completely ignorant to the Spiritual Warfare taking place right in front of their very eyes. But in all this, with all His knowledge, power and authority Jesus never boasted about who He was or became too proud to carry out the earth’s most humble mission. Christ Jesus, gave up His seat at the right side of the throne to be born and raised by a (earthly) poor couple. Jesus embodies all that the word love is, because He is love. As followers of Jesus, we too should model these same characteristics. Loving with patience, kindness, lacking all jealousy and envy, while being respectfully humble. This is a tall bar to reach. But if Jesus could give up heaven, all to bring us into it. We can certainly strive to meet the example of loving others as He did.