Day 138 "The Artwork of Patience"

We live in a world where patience has little virtue. We want things and we want them NOW! But one of the key tenets of love is patience.

"Love is patient. love is kind." 1 Corinthians 13:4

It is interesting to see in this chapter, a chapter well known for its expository teaching on love, that the first thing that the apostle Paul tells us is that love is patient. This follows his conclusion that living life without love leads to one being only a resounding gong, a person who gains nothing, and who is nothing in this lifetime. My, how that flies in the face of those who will stop at nothing to get ahead in this life, either desperately trying to prove the value of oneself to the world or simply to live pleasurably for oneself.

Do you find it interesting that Paul begins with patience? I do. I think that what Paul desires for us, before acting out by our reactions towards other people, is to take a moment to consider what we are doing and who we are doing it for. Paul later states that love is not self-seeking. Hmmm, love is not self-seeking, eh? A good mantra to keep in mind. I believe that patience is an ignition to the start of understanding. It takes the focus off of self and begins to search for what is going on in the lives of those around us and to help slow us down to recollect our thoughts, remember the grace in Christ that we have been shown, and to give us time to structure our actions in the framework of loving. I know, you might be thinking I am reading a whole lot more into this than what is there. But am I really? When it comes to all the valuable truths in this life that can provide us each with purpose and direction, may I remind you of these two verses:

"The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23

Much of everything else in life is about what we want. And guess what? It is all temporary stuff! So, when it comes to looking back upon your life, to what will you have given your life away to? Someone once remarked, "Be careful what you do with each day. Because you are giving up a day of your life to pay for it." You cannot go wrong giving your life away in love and patience, taking the time to measure the needs of those around you and give careful consideration to your steps before taking them. Such are key ingredients in the makeup of love and the healing of our world.

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"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

In his love, I'll see you tomorrow....

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)