In the next few weeks, I want to study several verses from 1 Corinthians 13 and talk about love. The King James Bible uses the word charity, and in most other translations the word love is used. So to begin, let's focus our attention on the fact that love is patient and kind. What does this mean practically speaking and what examples can we think of where we have seen this played out? Feel free to leave your experiences and thoughts in the comment section.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Charity suffereth long, and is kind KJB
Love is patient and kind NLT
The love that I want to discuss here in these posts is not romantic love though it does not exclude romantic love. A good definition of love is "you before me, your needs before mine". And we will see this love displayed as we think on the topic of love.
God loves us deeply and completely and as we all know, we can look to Him and see what love looks like. The ultimate demonstration of this love is that God gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross to pay for our sin and redeem us back to Himself.
Love suffers long and is kind - love is patient and kind.
God is patient with us as his children. He is not harsh with us. The Bible says that He is not willing that anyone should perish but that all should come to Him and be saved. So because of this he waits and softly He keeps calling us to surrender our lives to Him.
But what examples of this love being kind, patient and suffering long have you seen demonstrated by fellow Christians in your life?
Here are a few examples -
* a mother caring for a sick child, Day in and day out she stays by her child's side, she gives up her own wants and desires to care for the child who needs her. She waits patiently for healing for some sign of improvement to come. In kindness she provides all that she can to bring about as quick recovery as possible.
* a parent or teacher or youth pastor who never gives up on that wayward child, but continually pours time and energy into the child even with no real obvious results, patiently waiting for him or her to make that needed change in his or her life.
* a marriage gone wrong - spouse whose needs are not being met, Your husband or wife is consumed by other things and seemingly does not care anymore. Quietly and patiently and prayerfully you wait for the Lord to do something to bring about change to your situation. You are not looking to get out of the marriage - you are waiting on the Lord. In this patient love you will continue to treat him or her in kindness, doing all you can to please the Lord.
* single people - you long for the marriage partner that you believe is in God's will for you. Time is going by and your prayers are seemingly going unanswered. You are committed to the Lord, and so because of your love for the Lord, you continue to wait and to seek His face. He has a perfect plan for your life, waiting on the Lord is hard but it is what is needed.
*dating guys - the Lord has brought that special girl into your life. Keep yourself and your girlfriend pure. God's design is best - sex within the bond of marriage is God's plan for you. Love is kind and patient and will wait for marriage.
So we see many there are many examples of real life situations where walking in God's love is a patient waiting, doing good and kind deeds to those around us as we wait.
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1 Corinthians 13:4
Charity suffereth long, and is kind KJB
Love is patient and kind NLT
The love that I want to discuss here in these posts is not romantic love though it does not exclude romantic love. A good definition of love is "you before me, your needs before mine". And we will see this love displayed as we think on the topic of love.
God loves us deeply and completely and as we all know, we can look to Him and see what love looks like. The ultimate demonstration of this love is that God gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross to pay for our sin and redeem us back to Himself.
Love suffers long and is kind - love is patient and kind.
God is patient with us as his children. He is not harsh with us. The Bible says that He is not willing that anyone should perish but that all should come to Him and be saved. So because of this he waits and softly He keeps calling us to surrender our lives to Him.
But what examples of this love being kind, patient and suffering long have you seen demonstrated by fellow Christians in your life?
Here are a few examples -
* a mother caring for a sick child, Day in and day out she stays by her child's side, she gives up her own wants and desires to care for the child who needs her. She waits patiently for healing for some sign of improvement to come. In kindness she provides all that she can to bring about as quick recovery as possible.
* a parent or teacher or youth pastor who never gives up on that wayward child, but continually pours time and energy into the child even with no real obvious results, patiently waiting for him or her to make that needed change in his or her life.
* a marriage gone wrong - spouse whose needs are not being met, Your husband or wife is consumed by other things and seemingly does not care anymore. Quietly and patiently and prayerfully you wait for the Lord to do something to bring about change to your situation. You are not looking to get out of the marriage - you are waiting on the Lord. In this patient love you will continue to treat him or her in kindness, doing all you can to please the Lord.
* single people - you long for the marriage partner that you believe is in God's will for you. Time is going by and your prayers are seemingly going unanswered. You are committed to the Lord, and so because of your love for the Lord, you continue to wait and to seek His face. He has a perfect plan for your life, waiting on the Lord is hard but it is what is needed.
*dating guys - the Lord has brought that special girl into your life. Keep yourself and your girlfriend pure. God's design is best - sex within the bond of marriage is God's plan for you. Love is kind and patient and will wait for marriage.
So we see many there are many examples of real life situations where walking in God's love is a patient waiting, doing good and kind deeds to those around us as we wait.
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| photo - imgkid.com |
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