Corinthians 13---LOVE

Lately I have really been struggling with my teammates. There are a select few (3, maybe 4) that I get along with while everyone else not so much. My roommates don't talk to me and give me looks when I come into the same room as them like they were just talking about me. It's rough for me because I struggle when people do not like me. I am a placater (need to please people and have everyone like me). However, no matter what I do I can't get them to like me. I sit around some days thinking..."Why don't they like me? What did I do?"

Well, I have been reminded that my self worth is not in what other's think of me but ultimately what JESUS says is true for me; that being he loves me no matter what. I continue to try reminding myself this when my thoughts go to how and what I can do to make them like me. Also, no matter what people do, only the Lord can satisfy me. Everyone in the world can like me but they will still disappoint me. I need not to look for satisfaction in other's view of me and relationships but in my relationship with Christ. As I am writing, this song came on and reminded me of this. =]

Anyways getting to the good stuff..this is what I am learning and struggling with, but here are the truths and scripture I need to study. 

First 1 Corinthians 13 is a perfect example to show what it means to love someone. Most people read this scripture and think of romantic love. Although it can be seen as this too, this love described here is talking about the Lord's love for us and how we should love others. 

1. Love is patient: To love another I need to be patient. It's hard to love someone who is mean to you so it takes time and lots of patience!!
2. Love is kind: Loving someone doesn't mean being rude or getting frustrated and angry at them.
3. Doesn't envy, boast, or is proud: Love is is humble, giving glory not to self but the Lord. 
4. Doesn't keep a record of wrongs or easily provoked: Love isn't of the flesh, and falling to sin; getting back at someone or reacting to something. 
5. Rejoices in the TRUTH!! 

These few verses are so hard to live by and act upon but ultimately the right way to love someone. There is so much more to loving someone than the consumer's view. Also we need to love everyone, those we like, those we don't, and those who just tick us off to no end. This leads me to the next scripture. 

Second, Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 5:27-36 which plainly states love your enemies. Why you may ask? Well, why not? Loving on your enemies will show them that you do not fall to their level and get them wondering what it is that keeps you so alive and happy. Not letting anything bother you, not even when they treat you like dirt. This provides a great opportunity to show them what it means to have Christ in your life. 

Thirdly, this past week I have been praying and meditating a lot on this verse in my head. John 15:18 but below is verse 18-22 

"If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the world I spoke to you: A slave is not greater than his master. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you on account of My name, because they don't know theOne who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin."

This verse helps me not get angry at them so much and try to understand that I need to love them back. It's not my fault, they are not hating on me directly but on Jesus. It also reminds me of how strong Jesus was but also that he was human. He found strength through the Spirit and prayed a lot. I need to do the same.