First Corinthians 13 is often read at weddings. Yet even optimistic newlyweds will eventually fail to love. The only individual who perfectly fulfills this "love chapter" is Jesus Christ.

Pastor F. B. Meyer (1847-1929) wrote, "Jesus sits for His portrait in these glowing sentences, and every clause is true of Him. Substitute His name for 'love' throughout the chapter, and see whether it is not an exact likeness."

Let's try that. "[Jesus] suffers long and is kind; [Jesus] does not envy; [Jesus] . . . does not behave rudely, does not seek [His] own, . . . does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [Jesus] never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Yes, Jesus is the perfect example of love. Yet Paul wrote to describe how we are meant to love others. He knew, though, that we need more than to read about Christ's example of love; we need to experience His love by receiving Him into our lives as Lord and Savior. If we have done that, Paul declared, "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5). Only then will we be able to love others as Jesus does, by allowing Him to love them through us.  —JEY  — Joanie Yoder