Love is Patient - (Day Eight)

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Throughout the next few blog posts we will be diving in and taking a closer look at what has become known as the "love" chapter in the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 13 we can clearly see God's demonstration of love and how it is to be lived out. Like previously mentioned, love is an action and not an emotion.

"Love suffers long..."

Longsuffering (patience) reveals our faith in God's timing, omnipotence, and love. It doesn't lose it's temper easily. If we have God's love in us we will be longsuffering with the people in our lives who hurt and annoy us.

With the holidays just around the corner, maybe you will be faced with that one family member who is constantly nagging, gripping, and is hard to please. Sometimes you feel as though you can't do anything right and you're met with opposition despite your best efforts. This word Paul is referring to is one that calls us to have patience with people rather than with circumstances.

In his commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:4, Matthew Henry says of the term longsuffering: "It can endure evil, injury, and provocation, without being filled with resentment, indignation, or revenge. It makes the mind firm, gives it power over the angry passions, and furnishes it with a persevering patience, that shall rather wait and wish for the reformation of a brother than fly out in resentment of his conduct. It will put up with many slights and neglects from the person it loves, and wait long to see the kindly effects of such patience on him."

It is to no surprise that one of the attributes used to describe the Lord is longsuffering (Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:8, Psalm 86:15, and 2 Peter 3:9). The more we mature and grow in our walk with God, the more we are able to share his heart for others and patiently LOVE them regardless of their shortcomings...for we have faults as well.

Longsuffering...it's a kind of love that survives and stand the test of time.

Love,
Ashley