This is the kind of love we are referring to when we talk about loving food, sports, songs, etc. Agape, however, is the highest, dearest form of love, indicative of benevolence and charity. This is the kind of love God has for us, and this is the kind of love we experience with our spouse, children, close friends and family, as well as for God himself. For the purpose of this article, we re going to focus on agape. This is the kind of love that should be at the center of our Christian existence, for without this dearest form of love, we would be hard-pressed to share God s love with others.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes always perseveres. Given the constraints of space here, let s focus on what these verses say love is, as opposed to what it is not.