May 9-10 - 1 Cor 13 - Kind

Love is patient and kind;

love does not envy or boast;

it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.

Love never ends.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

 

LOVE IS ... KIND

 

What’s the first thing you notice when scripture says, “Love is patient and kind”?

 

Do you know what the first thing is that I notice about this? That it’s hard to do! Indeed, it’s especially hard to be patient all the time!

 

I’m short. I’m busy. I’m anxious. I’m abrupt. I lack patience ... at least, way too often. I want what I want when I want it. I don’t like submitting myself to the pace and agendas of another person. 

 

For example, my wife sometimes has different ideas about how we should spend our Saturdays. As a young man this drove me nuts. Her agenda — which often included very necessary chores — didn’t match my agenda (which usually included watching sports). The result? Conflict. 

 

I’d like to think I’m more patient now. More kind. We negotiate wants and needs and schedules much better. 

 

But kindness — selflessness — didn’t come natural. 

 

And patience sure doesn’t come naturally to me either. 

 

So ... do you know what the second thing I noticed about Scripture’s first two characteristics of love? They’re both fruits of the Spirit. Along with love, joy, and peace, the Spirit wants to give us patience, kindness, and goodness!

 

In other words, we can achieve these qualities of grace ... not by our own effort ... but by submitting ourselves to God and discovering his power. 

 

To say that yet another way, it’s when we’re weak (humbly admitting that we need God’s power), that we’re strong (able to be patient and kind ... through the Spirit’s guidance). 

 

Memorization: We’re trying to memorize today’s verse this week. Today read this passage OUT LOUD five times. Then see how far you can get just saying it. 

 

Question: If you want to fill your marriage with greater love, including patience and kindness, are you willing to submit more fully to God in faith, confession, and prayer?

 

In Christ’s  Love,

a guy who’s too often

busy, anxious, and abrupt

(so why do I keep refusing

- moment by moment --

to submit to the freeing Spirit?)