1 Corinthians 13.1
“Love is patient and kind …”
Patience is commonly defined as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” Patience, sometimes referred to in scripture as “longsuffering,” is a by-product of the presence of God’s love and the Spirit’s power in our life.
The biblical portrait of patience is not that of mere acquiescence or tolerance while we bide the time; rather, patience is a dynamic and powerful spiritual discipline that flows from love and is deeply rooted in our trust in God. And, as we are told here in 1 Corinthians 13, love produces patience, and patience produces perseverance.
With this in mind, we must respond to fellow believers with love and patience. Even as we seek to convince, instruct, and correct, we must always remember that only God can reach the human heart, and we must maintain the confidence that the Lord is at work in those who are fellow recipients of his grace.
Jesus himself illustrates this. Jesus loved the disciples, and therefore was very patient with them. They were sometimes stubborn, lazy, selfish, and slow to believe. In spite of Jesus’ miracles and words of wisdom, they were often focused on themselves and wavered in their belief about the identity, mission, and ministry of Jesus.
From a merely human standpoint, we can see how frustrating that must have been. Yet we do not find Jesus losing his patience and railing at his disciples because of their selfishness and foolishness. He doesn’t make fun of their mistakes.
At key moments Jesus challenges the disciples and declares they are slow to believe; but those are always appropriate reminders about what was at stake for them. These are appropriate and useful rebukes motivated by Jesus’ love for his disciples.
Love produces patience, and patience produces perseverance.
- Every parent who has raised children knows the necessity of patience and perseverance.
- Every coach who has led a team knows the necessity of patience and perseverance.
- Every manager or executive who has led a business knows the necessity of patience and perseverance.
- Every farmer who has planted a field knows the necessity of patience and perseverance.
- Every student who has learned a subject or a skill knows the necessity of patience and perseverance.
- Every athlete/artist who has pursued mastery of a sport/craft knows the necessity of patience and perseverance.
Trust God. Do the work. Do not let your old nature rob you of love, patience, and perseverance.
