God is love. Three of the most important words we need to know. Love is God. If we do not have love then we cannot be like God. Without love we are without God. God has shown us the great love that He has for us in sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross. He expects us to show our gratitude for His love by showing the same love to others. How do we do that? What is love like? Love is patient and kind. Does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. That is what love is. That is what God wants. That is what we must do.
There’s more we need to know and understand about love. We need to know that love is not irritable or resentful (1 Corinthians 13:5). Love is not provoked. It thinks no evil. It is not easily angered. It does not take into account a wrong endured.
Do we ever get irritable? Are we ever overly sensitive and easily provoked? I think most of us either are, have been, or will be. But that’s what we have to fight against. That ain’t love. Remember? Love is patient, kind, and does not insist on its own way. It’s in our nature to get irritated at times. We’re human. We get angry. But God looks down in His love and patience and says that we need to learn to control those natural feelings. Just because we’re human doesn’t mean we can’t control ourselves. Self-control. The one thing that God has called us to that is the answer to all sin. Do people at work ever bother you? Does your family get on your nerves? Does the person in traffic really get under your skin? God says that if you love you will not allow yourself to give in to irritability and anger. Our flesh has a strong urge to satisfy our anger and frustration. But God has called us to love. Love doesn’t do that. We’re going to be irritated at time and get angry. But we have to overcome it. Do not let it overcome us.
And speaking of the times we get angry and irritated. When somebody does something that hurts us or bothers us we’re real good at holding it against them. Keeping a grudge. Staying frustrated. Even vengeful. But that’s not love. Love is not resentful. Love does not look down on others even when they may have been ugly or unkind. Love doesn’t keep a record book so that every time something happens we can blast it at each other. Love seeks to be at peace. Love forgives and forgets. Love wants to move on and enjoy life. Being resentful is not only sinful but it ruins everything. It ruins your day. Your mood. Your relationships. It ruins other’s days. Don’t be resentful. It just ain’t loving.
Maybe you’ve already messed up today. Well, the Lord’s mercies are new every morning. Lord willing we will have another day to try again. Start now. Focus on love. Not being irritable or resentful. Look for the good. Look for the happiness. Live in peace. Live in Christ. God is love. We have to be love too.
A Cord of Blue 