If you have ever attended a wedding, you have probably heard the verses, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 which begins with, “love is patient…”, but these verses are not just for marriage. They are for every follower of Jesus.

Apostle Paul continues this chapter by focusing on how love should be put into practice. Love must be at the root of everything Christians do and evident in all our actions. When Paul writes that “Love is patient,” he urges Christians to embrace a love that is purposeful and constant. Loving patiently also means we choose to love even when it isn’t easy. If someone has mistreated you, loving them can be hard. We must love them anyway and not give up even if we feel hurt. Easier said than done, I know. However, we as Christians need to strive to be more like Jesus each day. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35). Patience and Love are also included in the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). They are outcomes of the Spirit’s presence in our lives.

Patience can be hard! Some days you may feel that you are calm and ready to take on anything and anyone, while other days you may wake up feeling more frustrated and irritable. On these tougher days, we really need to lean into God. “He will always be your strength” (Psalm 118:14). There are days when my children’s behavior will frustrate me or someone I see says something that just doesn’t sit well with me. If I try to approach those moments on my own, I tend to lose my patience. I need to remember that God is always there to talk to and that I can ask Him to speak through me with the right words and calm demeanor needed during those times. May we all strive to lean more on Him rather than our own instincts. 

Today: Ask God to speak through you today as you love patiently those you encounter.