Self Examination

This morning I am speaking on 2 corinthians 13:5. It states "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test. New living translation.
Jesus among us...what does that look like? The bible states Jesus said He was the exact representation of the Father...The Father states He is God....God states He is love. This word love is where it gets confusing. Paul states clearly what love is in 1 cor 13:4-8.
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love is not jealous
Love is not boastful
Love is not proud
Love is not rude
Love does not demand its own way
Love is not irritable
Love keeps no record of wrongs
Love is never glad about injustice
Love rejoices when the truth wins out
Love never gives up
Love never loses faith
Love is always hopeful
Love endures through every circumstance
Love lasts forever
Its a formidable list to say the least. A list that makes me see just how far away I am from where I need to be. A list that almost overwhelms me when I compare it to the state my heart really is in. Last night as I was working on this lesson I had to go in my room, plop down face first on my bed and just cry out to God because I saw how short I was on love. As I looked at the list through tears in my eyes...suddenly that small voice in my head began to talk to me. It said "wait a minute....who is love?"
Me: "You are love"
Him: "Do you believe that?"
Me: "Yes"
Him: "Are you sure"
Me: "You say you are"
Him: "Do you believe that?"
Me: "Yes I do.'
Him: "Why are you crying then?"
Me: "This list overwhelms me! I cant do it!"
Him: "Do you want to know a secret?"
Me: (through sniffles and mildly curious) "Yeh"
Him: "Since I am love, replace the word "love" with "God".
Me: " Yeh"
Him " I love you"
Him "All better now?"
Me: "Yeh"