February is known for Valentine’s Day. It is the day that we celebrate love in all its aspects, but especially romantic love. As Christians, though we experience romantic love, we are commanded by Christ to walk in love. However, relationships of all types can make it difficult to demonstrate love consistently. Some individuals can say and do things that make it difficult to love, but easy to dislike and despise. But, the command to love came in light of all these things.

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (GW)

Love is not an option for the Christian; therefore, an understanding and demonstration of love has to characterize life. To gain a full understanding of love, we must first understand The Sensitivity of Love. Paul began his description of love by stating that love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous. These reveal love’s sensitivity. If we are going to walk in love, we need love’s sensitivity. Love is sensitive to a person’s need. When people are offensive and hurtful, it is a sure sign of an inner need. Love helps us to desensitize from our personal feelings and be attentive to another. In doing so, we can be demonstrators of patience and kindness while forsaking any feelings of jealousy.

Patient – When we walk in love, patience will be our hallmark. Love causes an individual to put up with and endure another’s sin, weakness, and even an attack. It is because love causes foresight. You will look beyond what a person is to what a person can become. God demonstrates patience as He deals with us because He knows what we can be in Him. Therefore, we must have this same mindset in our dealings with others.

Kind – Love causes us to respond in kindness and calmly when someone offends or tries to abuse or use us. The Bible says that God is kind to the unthankful and evil. We are challenged to be like Him. You must understand that God’s kindness is to give offenders an opportunity to receive Him. When we are demonstrating kindness to deliberate offenders, we give them the opportunity to consider their ways and ultimately repent. Even if they do not change or repent, we have laid up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

Not Jealous – Love is selfless. It considers others before itself. Yet, the nature of man is oftentimes selfish. Because of this, jealousy becomes a common emotional response to some else’s apparent prosperity. It is an enemy of love. Jealousy causes people to disregard a person’s need because of personal perception. In addition, jealousy will cause you to withhold kindness and patience from an individual. It is cruel. However, if you confront feelings of jealousy at their first appearance, you will find it easier to walk in love.

We must understand that love is sensitive. It looks beyond a person’s actions into a person’s need. It can be difficult to remain sensitive when others are repeat offenders. However, Christians take their “cue” from the Lord. If He demonstrated patience and kindness to us even when we were deliberately in error, we can do it for others. Strive for love. When we walk in love, we prove that we are His children.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS