Love Is Patient

In the book of 1 Corinthians, God uses the apostle Paul to teach us about love. It’s funny he has to explain it to us. Even more interesting is his first definition of love: it is patient. Apparently, we miss this point a lot.

Too often, we think of love as a quick, elusive feeling. We believe it comes as easy as the 90-minute romantic comedies we stream on Netflix. We believe it’s something to grasp and then ride its magical tide before it disappears. And when the feeling falls flat, fizzles out, we despair. When the work gets hard, we fear we’ve done something wrong.

But God’s Word tells us love is patient. Love is in it for the long haul, ready to do the work and wait for the reward. If we want the steady, deep love we see in older marriages, we must hold on through the awkward, exhausting, irritating first years of learning to get along.

If we want our child to become a calm, well-adjusted young person, we must work through our three-year-old's tantrums.

If we want a confident, undeterred teenager, we have to meet the emotional needs of the elementary kid.

Love is patient and kind.

1 Corinthians 13:4a (CEV)

The Lord loves us where we are and patiently pushes us to what we can become. To grow in love and exercise patience with our children, we only look to the master of love, God. We can ask him daily to fill us with his patient love.

PRAY

Father of patient love, help me to love my family more like you do. Please help me to be in it for the long haul, celebrate the progress, and have hope for positive results. Fill our home with your grace. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): What do you think love is like?

Apply: With younger kids, brainstorm animal characteristics together to explain love. For example, love is as strong as a bear, faithful as a dog, etc. With older kids, talk about examples of love, good and bad, from friends and entertainment. Then discuss which of these examples represents patient love.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Proverbs 19:11

Ephesians 4:2