This is a Bible Study on how God’s love is long suffering and kind.
God’s Love Is Longsuffering and Is Kind
I Corinthians 13:4, 5 & 7
The scriptures say that charity (or love) suffers long and is kind, is not easily provoked, bares all things. Contrary to popular belief love does involve pain and suffering. In our society and the for that matter the world, the fascination with ecstasy and fantasy has created an unrealistic view of love and love in relationships. It should be logically deduced that if we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people with imperfect situations that our relationships will be filled with imperfections. These imperfections will cause pain and suffering in our relationships but the right kind of love, God’s love has all of the key ingredients to keep the love flowing even though imperfections exist in our relationships.
Our scripture text implies the prolonged pain we get in bearing all that is suffered, this love is not easily provoked and even when it is, it response in kindness. Many people cringe at the thought of suffering any kind of pain in a love relationship for fear of becoming vulnerable to being used or taken advantage of. Yet in the scriptures we see love enjoined with pain and suffering. Once again we cannot give what we have not received but once we realize how much God through Christ suffered for us and we believe as well as receive this into our lives. We will then be able to endure a fraction of that pain for those we say we love. Can we?
Of course we can. Just think about your children again (if you have them). You suffer or suffered sleepless nights and seemingly endless diapers with love and joy. Why? Because you love them. As they get older you endure their mistakes and help them make their growth adjustments in an encouraging way. Why? Because you love them. If can do that with your child, why not your spouse. If with your pet why not your mother-in-law or co-worker. Certainly we are capable after receiving God’s love into our lives of loving others with a longsuffering and kind love. We just have to renew our minds with the mind of Christ so that we may love the way He loves, Romans 12:2 & I Cor 2:16.