A little bit of the white stuff is coming down today, but probably not enough to slow anything down too much. I am always amazed at the diversity of Your creation, Father. Thank You for the joys to behold!
1 Corinthians 13:4b (<<click here to read the passage)
…love is kind and thoughtful… AMP
As I sat to write this afternoon, I knew the words I wanted to address in verse four but wasn’t exactly sure where to go with them. So, I started poking around a bit. The first thing I did was to look up the word “kind.”
Merriam-Webster defines “kind” to be of a sympathetic or helpful nature / of a forbearing nature.
OK, that led me to look up “forbearing.” The Collins Dictionary states it this way. Someone who is forbearing behaves in a calm and sensible way at a time when they would have a right to be very upset or angry.
But then Merriam-Webster defined “forbearing” as given to or chosen or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and wants of others.
Love is a multifaceted word. The Apostle Paul fleshed it out pretty well here in verses 4-7. I’ve purposely chosen to use the Amplified Bible because of its ability to make known all the little nuances we might otherwise overlook. This is my second post with this portion of the first part of verse 4 alone!
We have much to learn when we speak of love. All of the above definitions direct our thoughts in all the right directions.
I truly believe that love is a thing of time. For love to be what it can be, we need to take the time to invest in it, and that is done by investing in others. First and foremost is our investment in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. And with that as our primary goal, we can then invest in ourselves. We can come to love ourselves, not in a selfish, self-gratifying way – but seeing ourselves as God sees us and loving what that is. Then, we can learn to love others how they need to be loved!
When I first read Merriam-Webster’s definition of forbearing, a hymn came to mind (surprise!) written by William D. Longstaff following a service in Keswick, England, where he heard Griffith John – a missionary from China – speak in 1882. The words that rang in Longstaff’s heart and mind were, “Take time to be holy.” And the hymn of the same name was born.
Take a moment and read through the beautiful text of this hymn and see what love can do if we just…Take Time to Be Holy. (I’ve also placed a lovely piano accompaniment at the bottom of the post if you want to listen to it while reading the text.)
Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
Dec 18th, 2023, Mon, 12:47 pm
