Paul gave us the lowdown on love in 1 Corinthians 13. In one paragraph the apostle lays down some conditions for us to recognize love in action.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (vv 4-7)
Another translation begins this passage with, "Love is patient, love is kind." Suffers long? Bears all things? There are times when my capacity for suffering and bearing what I am getting from another person or company seems to be at an end. I don't want to bear and suffer in love; I want to kick someones fanny. Does shortsuffering make the list of Love's qualities? How about unkind thoughts? No? That's what I thought. It seems that I don't always match the description of love that Paul writes for us. At such times, patient and kind do not describe the storm brewing in my mind. Someone has provoked me and love is not provoked. I'm a failure at love.
Praise God that in such times the Holy Spirit is not silent. As the storm thunders in my heart, the command goes forth, "Peace, be still!" And, as the storm passes, I begin to think of the other fellow. What has caused this situation? What is going on at the other end of that phone or e-mail? Have I run into some organizational blind spot? Perhaps they cannot see what the situation looks like from the other end. Understanding helps to move away from any selfishness present in my anger. Maybe that other person cannot do what I think they should do. What seems obvious from my end is not at all clear on his. Love is indeed longsuffering, if we can obey His voice to write love, speak love, and live in love at all times. Love can be angry; Jesus was a couple of times in the Temple. But am I enough like Him in love to be angry yet?
Have a loving and lovely day in Christ Jesus!
Bucky
No comments:
Post a Comment