“Love is patient and kind” 1 Corinthians 13:4a
Love is Patient
The word literally means: A long way from anger
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.” Psalm 103:8 NASB
“He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29 NASB
TO BECOME PATIENT:
- We need to remember how patient God has been with us
“Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:16 NASB
PATIENT REMINDERS:
- We are all wired differently
“Train up a child in the way they should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NASB
- Our differences create misunderstandings
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 NLT
- We grow and mature at different paces
“…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 NASB
- We don’t know what God is up to behind the scenes
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 NLT
Love is Kind
The word literally means: Others centered
TO BE KIND:
- We need to remember how kind God has been to us
“How precious is Your loving kindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 36:7 NASB
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” Colossians 3:12-13 NASB
- We need to abide in the King of kindness
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 NASB
“The fruit of the Spirit is kindness…” Galatians 5:22