Episode 117

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the power of love. Part of me thinks it’s because my son is getting married in a couple weeks and another part of me thinks it’s because hate is advancing across the globe. I keep asking God to intervene, and he keeps reminding me of the power of love. So, I’ve been meditating on what many in the church call “the love chapter.” The beautiful description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 has been read at more weddings than I can count.

The love chapter accurately describes not merely how God loves but also who God is.

1 John 4:8 says that God is love. Love is not merely something God does. Love is a description of who God is. God is love. It’s in his character to love. It’s in his character be love. The first quality of love given in 1 Corinthians 13 is patience. Love is patient; therefore, God is patient.

Patience isn’t the only description given in 1 Corinthians 13 that describes God. He is also kind. He is never arrogant or rude. And thankfully he keeps no record of wrongs. All of the descriptions in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reveal the character of God because God is love.

God doesn’t have to work at being patient any more than I have to work at being 5’4”. I am 5’4”, 5’4” is what I am. I’m other things too, but I have to work at being some of those things…. Like patient. But God doesn’t have to work at being patient. Or kind. Or loving. God is love. He just is.

The Bible tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. When I was raising my children, I often asked God to give me some of his new mercies. It’s hard to be patient when your child gets on your last nerve. I had to work at being patient, but God doesn’t. God doesn’t have a last nerve. God’s patience with you will never wear thin because God will never wear thin. God’s love for you will never waver because God will never waver. Every quality of love listed in 1 Corinthians 13 are as ever-present in God as God is ever-present. You and I don’t have to worry that God will give up on us because love never ends. In fact, those three words are the first three words in 1 Corinthians 13:8.

Love never ends

Have you visited my website lately? The “Podcast” tab in the main navigation bar now not only takes you to this podcast, where you can see all the images that I create each week with the declarations on them, but it also provides a link to my new video podcast called, “Find Joy.” The first 10 episodes walk you through my book, Longing to Belong. I’ve already posted five episodes, so we are halfway through, but you can join in at the beginning at any time. Learn more on my website at shawnamariebryant.com.

This week’s scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7