Love is Patient

Love is patient…

— 1 Corinthians 13:4a (NIV)

What is love?  More specifically, what is agape love?  The New Testament’s renowned love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, at its core (verses 4-7) gives agape love’s attributes.

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails…

— 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

I have come to believe that love’s attributes are God’s attributes.  These attributes are descriptive of God and start out as prescriptive for us.  As we mature, they become more descriptive of us, as we are more like God.

The trait of patience runs though this passage.  To not easily be angered is a trait of patience.  To keep no record of wrongs is another.  Does patience not also protect, trust, hope, and persevere?  If love never fails then wouldn’t patience never fail?

We don’t serve an impatient God, but a perfectly patient one.  He’s so patient with our sins that he took care of every one of them on the cross.  On that basis, he keeps no record of them.

In the end we will be like him.  If our destiny is to not be easily angered; keep no record of wrongs; protect, trust, hope, and persevere for our brothers and sisters, then why not do it now?  Or at least pray to be able?