Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4–5
God used Paul to write out the full description of His love in 1 Corinthians 13. We read in 1 Corinthians 13:4–5, “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.” God’s love is patient and kind. A great example of God’s patience and kindness is found in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” If it were not for God’s loving patience and kindness, every human would be doomed to being separated from God for all eternity. We must show others the same patience and kindness our Heavenly Father shows us through Christ our Lord. God’s love eliminates all bragging, arrogance, pride, rudeness, and selfishness. When we’re filled with God’s love, we want to honor and glorify Him, not ourselves—we desire to treat others with the same love and respect that God gives to us through Christ. God’s love changes our entire perspective on how we treat others. God’s love is also not easily angered and it never keeps a record of the wrongs that have been done—that is why God tells us in Colossians 3:13 that we must “bear with one another, and forgive each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as our Lord has forgiven us, we must forgive each other.”
Challenge & Application
How much patience and kindness has God shown you and how should you show the same to those around you?
How different would your life be if you were willing to love and forgive the way God loves and forgives you?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!