God’s love toward us is perfect. We can count on it. He excuses us every single day for the things we say or do that are not pleasing to Him. His arms are open to us no matter what we have gotten ourselves into. There is nothing He cannot fix if we are sincere when we approach Him.
In the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verses 4 through 7 there is a list given to us to use as a check point. All of us fall short of these points regularly. However God will remind us of this list as we come across challenges in life in order to mold us into His likeness.
There are a few examples of how we can use these check points to see where we stand in our own walk with our Lord.
When speaking to a person who has dementia and they ask the exact same question over and over, do we politely respond with the exact same answer each time with a pleasant attitude or do we start to get irritated? Could it be impatience?
When we are overlooked for a position we earned and watch while that position is given to a physically attractive person do we turn green with envy? Do we want to retaliate or become rude and complain to the hiring manager? We all struggle with that one but God is our ultimate boss. If we are the ones promoted at the expense of a more deserving person do we let it go to our heads? Do we allow ourselves to think we are better than the one that was pushed aside?
Are there times we know we can do something a better way and we take steps to slowly implement our own idea? Do we stop and think that this would cause downsizing and many would lose their jobs as a result of our idea?
Do we become unsettled when we see people wrong others or when they wrong us? Some wrongs cause serious hardships for us but do we cling to anger or do we focus on the promises in the Bible?
When a person is bullied do we enjoy the encounter like an arena game or do we help create a pathway to peace?
When we pray for someone to change and stop bad habits and they go from bad to worse, do we give up on them or do we continue to pray and encourage them? Sometimes encouragement means being firm but never angry.
How do we stand compared to this check list? Most people will rate a C-. We all have room to grow.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New Living Translation
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
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