May 17th, 2024
by Robert Presson
by Robert Presson
“Love suffers long and is kind” — 1 Corinthians 13:4, NKJV
It's interesting that Paul mentions both patience and kindness when he describes love. The two are closely related because to be kind to someone often requires patience, and to be patient requires kindness. You could even say love is a mixture of patience and kindness. It's easy to be kind to someone once. That is simply called “having manners.” You can be kind to someone in a single moment, but can you stay that way over time? Can you be consistently patient with someone who is challenging or frustrating to be around? Can you endure pain for a long time? Herein lies a true test of love. Here is where your claim to love people will be weighed.
Consider this. Can you consistently be kind to someone who has been a part of your life for years, even when they irritate you or do something wrong? You might be kind to someone you just met or someone you're trying to impress. Can you put up with their bad behavior and maintain your patience?
Here is where the sincerity of your love is made evident. It goes beyond merely showing kindness or using kind words. It involves consistently being kind and patient, even under trying conditions. In any relationship, having both patience and kindness on your side is a powerful combination. When you are patient with someone, you are demonstrating their value to you and your willingness to put effort and time into the relationship. By being kind to someone, you convey your concern for their welfare and willingness to put their needs ahead of your own. But displaying kindness and patience is not always simple. It sometimes requires effort, and other times it requires sacrifice. It necessitates setting aside your own wants and needs in order to put other people's needs first.
So let's make an effort to consistently show love, even when it's difficult, and to be patient and kind in our relationships. That is love. That is longsuffering. In doing this, we are creating something that will last the test of time. In our closest relationships, patience plus kindness equals love.
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This blog is taken from Robert Presson's book, "30 Days of Faith, Hope and Love." To order this book, go to cityrevival.tv/fhl
It's interesting that Paul mentions both patience and kindness when he describes love. The two are closely related because to be kind to someone often requires patience, and to be patient requires kindness. You could even say love is a mixture of patience and kindness. It's easy to be kind to someone once. That is simply called “having manners.” You can be kind to someone in a single moment, but can you stay that way over time? Can you be consistently patient with someone who is challenging or frustrating to be around? Can you endure pain for a long time? Herein lies a true test of love. Here is where your claim to love people will be weighed.
Consider this. Can you consistently be kind to someone who has been a part of your life for years, even when they irritate you or do something wrong? You might be kind to someone you just met or someone you're trying to impress. Can you put up with their bad behavior and maintain your patience?
Here is where the sincerity of your love is made evident. It goes beyond merely showing kindness or using kind words. It involves consistently being kind and patient, even under trying conditions. In any relationship, having both patience and kindness on your side is a powerful combination. When you are patient with someone, you are demonstrating their value to you and your willingness to put effort and time into the relationship. By being kind to someone, you convey your concern for their welfare and willingness to put their needs ahead of your own. But displaying kindness and patience is not always simple. It sometimes requires effort, and other times it requires sacrifice. It necessitates setting aside your own wants and needs in order to put other people's needs first.
So let's make an effort to consistently show love, even when it's difficult, and to be patient and kind in our relationships. That is love. That is longsuffering. In doing this, we are creating something that will last the test of time. In our closest relationships, patience plus kindness equals love.
---
This blog is taken from Robert Presson's book, "30 Days of Faith, Hope and Love." To order this book, go to cityrevival.tv/fhl
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