God is Love

I 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. 

This is who God is!  The Bible says that God is love. This is used as to how we are to act as Christians, but it also describes how He acts toward us.  God is patient and kind.  Let me say that again…GOD IS PATIENT AND KIND!  Wow!  That alone speaks volumes to the many lies that we have heard.  Many of us have seen God as a giant ogre who is waiting to drop the gavel and pronounce judgment on us.  But that is very contrary to what the Bible says.  

This does not come easy for me.  I have to remind myself often of what the Bible says.  It is easy for me to receive guilt and condemnation… But that is NOT God! 

When we screw up…He is patient and kind.  When we ignore His presence… He is patient and kind.  When we deserve punishment…He is patient and kind!  He gave us mercy when we could be French fries. 

This translation says “love is not irritable…”.  Another translation says love is not irritable or touchy. So God doesn’t get mad easily.  It takes a lot to get him angry.  (We need more of Him and less of us in our lives!)  Sometimes I feel like I have ticked Him off and He doesn’t want to hear from me.  That is a lie!  Have you heard it too?  It’s a ploy of the enemy to separate us from the One who loves us most!  We don’t have to walk on eggshells.  I read in the Psalms David whining but he ends up praising.  God is big enough to take our whining, but praising can change the situation!  So, it’s much more productive. 

And the last part of this verse…love never gives up!  He doesn’t give up on us, our spouses, our kids, our neighbors, our government, our co-workers, our church, etc. Our prayers can avail much!  They can make a real difference because we are asking God to be involved in our loved ones lives.  

He will, you know? 

I’m expecting revival to hit Defiance, Ohio…the whole United States. Watching the movie “Woodlawn” showed how God moved in the 70’s and many were saved from all walks of life.  Two whole football teams were saved.  He did it before and He’ll do it again!  

Why?  Because He loves us!