Liam and I have been enrolled in Kingdom Institute for the past seven months. It is a Bible School program designed to train us in Kingdom principles and help us learn what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ.
It is a two year program and already we have learned so much! Classes like "Spirit, Soul and Body", "How to be Led by the Spirit", "Kingdom Mind Renewal" have been amazing foundations. But this past semester was the most challenging of all so far. The two courses were "Kingdom Concept of Faith", and "Kingdom Concept of Love".
Both of these have stretched and strengthened me in my spiritual walk. For "Kingdom Concept of Love", one of our tests was to learn 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 by heart and be able to write it, word for word, from memory.
I chose what I believe is the longest available version of this passage because it is also the most in depth. It is the Expanded Interpretive Translation by Rick Renner; he took all the original Greek words and expanded upon what was truly meant by the author at the time.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"Love patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed; Love doesn't demand others to be like itself; rather, it is so focused on the needs of others that it bends over backwards to become what others need it to be; Love is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with itself that it never considers the needs or desires that others possess; Love doesn't go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it seem more important in the sight of others; Love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish or clannish manner;Love is not rude and discourteous- it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others; Love does not manipulate situations, or scheme and devise methods that will twist situations to its own advantage; Love does not deliberately engage in actions or speak words that are so sharp, they cause an ugly or violent response; Love does not deliberately keep records of wrongs or past mistakes; Love does not feel overjoyed when it sees an injustice done to someone else, but is elated, thrilled, ecstatic, and overjoyed with the truth; Love protects, shields, guards, covers, conceals, and safeguards people from exposure; Love strains forward with all its might to believe the very best in every situation; Love always expects and anticipates the best in others and the best for others, Love never quits, never surrenders, and never gives up; Love never disappoints, never fails, and never lets anyone down."
Oh how far we have fallen from the original intent of the King!
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