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."