1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I believe everyone at some point in their life has read, listened to, or heard 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and the description of love. This is one of my favorite verses because it accurately describes the love of God. It is also a very convicting passage – I am not always demonstrating these actions in my day-to-day life. As I read this passage, I am reminded of how much like Jesus I want to be and how far from Jesus I really am. That does not diminish my relationship with Christ or to say that I am far from God. It is a reminder of how much I need God and how thankful I am for Jesus’ demonstration of what love looks like. My prayer for December is “God make me more like you.” As I pray this every day, God has really opened my eyes. I see people, situations, and circumstances so much more different that I have. Through scripture God continues to show me what I need to do to be more like him.
Here are my top 5 revelations in the last 14 days:
#1 – Being patient and kind is not just an action we are supposed to do when it is convenient for us. We must be patient and kind to our kids, our boss, our employees, and the guy racing down the interstate with his middle finger in the air. (Las Vegas traffic is no joke) Patience and Kindness helps to create an atmosphere that will enable others to see God through us
#2 – Be happy for the blessings of others! God wants us to celebrate the victories of others and to be happy for them. We cannot do that if we are being envious of their blessings. As followers of Christ, we should be thanking God for his blessings on our friends, families, and even strangers. Our celebration for the blessings of others may be water needed for the seeds we have been sowing.
#3 – Wash feet but know when to rest! I used to think to honor God I needed to serve until I was exhausted. I think this was me being self-seeking, like “LOOK AT ME, I AM SO MUCH LIKE CHRIST I SERVE ALL THE TIME.” I got burned out and my heart hardened. Not fun and it did not honor God. Now all these years later I see that washing feet is hard work, because it puts other first. It is important work, and if done correctly it is pleasing to God. It is also pleasing to God to know when to rest – Keep others first and your heart soft – A posture of praise that focuses on the father and not “look at me.”
#4 – Forgiveness opens doors of restoration and healing that you need. Revenge and petiteness may make you feel “good” for the moment, but it is not of God and does not bring him honor. Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” That’s huge, Jesus was beaten, bruised, and crucified yet he still forgave them. There is nothing no one can do to you or me that has not been done to Jesus. If Jesus can forgive others for being their worst, if Jesus can forgive me for being my worst (many times) then I can forgive others.
#5 – Love always does the right thing! If we want to be more like Jesus, we must always do the right thing, even when it hurts. Doing the right thing may not bring us glory, may not feel good in the moment, and may require us to humble ourselves and apologize. Doing the right thing honors God. Always trusts, always protects, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love helps us to the do the right thing & makes us more like God!
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