1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.
Many of us find ourselves in circumstances where our reaction can be the very opposite of love. I know I can become grumpy and irritated. We have all been either the receiver or the giver of this type of response. Usually, with those we are in the closest relationship in life. But 1 John 4:18 says that “...perfect love casts out all fear.”
Over time I have learned the only way the fruit of love will come out of me consistently, even when I’m stressed, will be a direct result of understanding these simple attributes of God's love.
1. Kindness - Another description of kindness is to be generous. Every one of us has the opportunity to show God's love to others through our generosity on a daily basis. Take the opportunity this week to show someone else God’s love through a simple act of kindness.
2. Patience - Love is patient. We live in a world where everything is done at a breakneck pace. No one is willing to wait and when we are required to, we can become discontent and even irritable with others. The Bible says that our heavenly Father is slow to anger and He is full of compassion. We display love when we show patience.
3. Faithful - Love never gives up. Whether you are married or hope to be one day, the faithfulness you pledge to that other person will not be determined the day you wake up and realize they are not as perfect as you thought they were. But it will be determined in the moment you say yes to a lifetime. Love decides I am not giving up.
I am so grateful that God’s Word is a literal map that guides us to living more fully like him here on Earth. We get to be the love that our family, friends, and the world around us so desperately need through simply showing God’s kindness, reacting in patience, and living faithfully in what he has called us to.
Jennifer Zachary is an incredible leader and pastor at Bethany who imparts into our freshmen student body weekly. Everyone who meets her loves her and values the depths of wisdom she shares so freely and with the heart of a friend. Thanks for sharing with us!
