1 Corinthians 13; What is Love? Love is Kind

Hello All!

Here is the next blog of what God is teaching me. Here we will continue learning about what is Love in 1 Corinthians 13.  Looking at verse 4, we next shall learn about love being Kind.

 Kind: Of a friendly nature and generous. Considerate, thoughtful, generous.

Proverbs 14: 21 "He who despise his neighbors, sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy."

Being kind to those less fortunate than yourself; some in need. Maybe they are struggling with fiances; maybe they are struggling to find work; Maybe they are struggling to make friends. Maybe they are struggling with an addiction. Whatever it maybe, being kind to someone who is needy and/or struggling shows that person love.

Luke 6: 35 "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back, Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

Ephesians 4: 32 " Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you."

God wants to love others; even those who upset us, offend us, hurt us, or even despise us. If a stranger cuts you off in traffic; love him or her. If a friend hurts you in anyway, love him or her. Be kind and forgiving.  Forgiving and being kind to enemies and even people you love but have been hurt by, honors the Lord and demonstrates love. It is not easy for sure, but God will give you the strength to do it, if you ask and allow him to.

That is how people know we are followers of Jesus or at should know how we are followers. Let us look at a verse we saw in the last blog about love is patient.

Colossians 3:12-13 "Therefore, as God's chosen people; holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." 

2 Timothy 2:24 "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful."

What is neat is here is another verse we saw in the last verse that points to another characteristic of love. We will see this verse again.

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patient, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Gentleness and self-control."

So, I find it really neat that there are other verses that points back to some of the characteristics of love.

Here is the last verse I will share with you:

2 Peter 1:5-8 "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and goodness, knowledge and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control; perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

1 Corinthians 13; What is Love?: Love is Patient.

Hello Everyone!

Lately, I have been going through some tough challenges. God has been and continues to be faithful and walking right along side me and  helping me through them. I have decided to start blogging a bit about what he is teaching me.

For this blog I am going to write and share about a bit of the study I have been going through on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. What love is.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Now, I am going to do share about what other things the bible says about each of these characteristics of love. For this blog, We shall study patience:

Patience: ability to endure, perseverance, restraint, and endurance. Among other things.


Love is patience. What is patience and what else does the bible say about in relation to love?

Well, here are some verses God has shared with me.

Ephesians 4: 2-3 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bound of peace."

1 Thessalonians 5:14 "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

In regards to patience being a characteristic of love, in regards to these passages, we need to be patient with others and encourage them. If they are not as far along into something as you are, show patience. Maybe they are new to the Christian faith and are plugging into your bible study group, be sure to bear with them and the answers they share in the discussions. Be patient.  That shows them courtesy and shows them that you care about what they have to say. That is being loving.

Patience with others is loving. It is actually considered one of the fruits of the Spirit!

Galatians 5: 22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control..." 

 Having and/or showing patience can indeed be tough. Whether your waiting in line at the grocery store at the checkout, or waiting on a friend or family member to pick you up from school or an appointment or something like that. It can tough with people and hard situations too. Your parents wanting to know about your day or your grades in school. Various things your sibling(s) do or say.

Being patient with people is hard for sure, but it honors God when we do show it; especially when we may think that other person is really pushing our buttons.

Even in the middle of challenging and difficult times, we are to show patience as that shows we are trusting God to deliver us on his timing.

Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." I am waiting on the Lord to provided for me and get me through the trials I am going through.

Another cool verse is: Colossians 1:9-12 "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience and joyfully giving thanks to the Father.

The last verse I will share, it shows what kind of character God wants his people to have, and live out.
Colossians 3:12-13 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

I hope you are encouraged by this blog and what God has been teaching me.