God is Patient and Kind

"Love is patient. Love is kind" 1 Cor 13:6

The word "love" here is translated from the Greek "Agape" which means affectionate or benevolent or unconditional love or as John Gill's Bible expository puts it "an everlasting, unchangeable, and invariable love." The King James translation in fact uses the word "charity" in place of the word love. "Charity suffereth long and is kind." (KJV)

God, who foreknew us before we were born (Rom 11:2); ordained us for a purpose, His purpose. He, therefore, must be patient with us so that we can serve out His purpose for our lives on earth. He wants us to succeed in our relationship with him and our endeavors of service for the Kingdom. Everything that happens to us good and bad are a product of his work in us.

God's kindness and patience as modeled by his son Jesus is the standard God wants us to exhibit toward our neighbors. However, God realizing we are on a journey toward that standard, does not condemn us as we develop, rather he patiently and lovingly waits for us as we reach the fullness that he desires.

My prayer: Thank you Lord for being patient and kind with us. Mold us Father into the men and women of God that you desire us to be. Help us to be more like Jesus with every passing day and use us for your purposes and glory while we are in this world. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

God is Love

"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." 1 Cor 13:5-6

I had a great conversation with God this morning in my quiet time. I was taking my thrice daily medicine, reading the love chapter, and he showed me something awesome. 1 John 4:8 teaches that "God is love," and because that is true, God said, then from today's verse now you can more fully understand who I am.

God is patient, God is kind. God does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud. God is not rude, God is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered, God keeps no record of wrongs.

This truly astounded me. Am I that slow? After all these years as a Christian, I did not have even a vague idea of the character of God! For the first time in my life, I have a grasp on who God is. I know that my mind can never comprehend an infinite being but to write down these nine characteristics made God so real (tangible) to my human understanding.

Why should I be surprised? Wouldn't a God of such character want his children to understand him? He wrote the Bible using human hands so that the infinite could be explained to us in terms we may understand. We just need to read it!

My prayer: Father, thank you for giving us your Word so that we may have a glimpse into your infinite majesty. In the name of Jesus, whom you sent to show us physically who you are and to whom we owe our salvation, I pray for a continuous renewal of our minds so that we are transformed into your likeness. I pray for a boldness in our walk and a confidence in our spirit, so that we may take the gospel to a hurting world because you love all mankind!