What Does Love Look Like?

I have come face-to-face with my own selfishness much too often lately.  Seeing it surface pains me, especially in those times when it catches me by surprise (come on, don't tell me your sin doesn't sometimes surprise you!).  And so I have been asking the Lord to send His Spirit to help me grow in selfless love... although I'm aware that I have got a loooooooong way to go, I am encouraged to know that I have a Good Shepherd who knows just how to lead me on this journey and He delights in doing so (praise the Lord!).

The following two Scriptures have been particularly meaningful in this season as I ask the Lord to transform my heart.  We know the first one so well, but the Amplified version of it has given me more to ponder and caused me to say "OUCH!" and "HELP!" over and over again.  The second is a self-proclamation of the beautiful nature of God that is a powerful revelation for us to remember and thank Him for...

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (Amplified)  Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.  It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].  It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.  Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].  Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

Exodus 34:5-7a (ESV)  The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin...