The Nature and Need of Patient Love
In 1 Corinthians 13 – commonly known as “The Love Chapter” – the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul gives us 15 characteristics of Christian love.
And the very first characteristic?
Love is patient.
The word in the Greek for patient (makrothumein) in the New Testament always describes patience with people, not patience with circumstances.
John Chrysostom, an early Church father who died back in 407 AD, said that it is the word which is used of the person who is wronged and who has it easily in his power to avenge himself and who yet will not do it. It describes the person who is slow to anger, It is used of God Himself in His relationship with us (thank You, Lord!!). And in our dealings with others, however unresponsive and however unkind and hurting they are, we must exercise the same patience as God exercises with us. It is the simple truth that such patience is not the sign of weakness but the sign of strength; it is not defeatism but rather the only way to victory.
Pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick (d.1969) told the story of how no one treated President Lincoln with more contempt than did a man named Edwin Stanton. He called the President ” a low cunning clown.” He nicknamed him ” the original gorilla ” and said that Du Chaillu was a fool to wander about Africa trying to capture a gorilla when he could have found one so easily at Springfield, Illinois.
Wow.
And Lincoln said nothing.
Wow.
Actually, he made Stanton his war minister because Lincoln believed Stanton was the best man for the job.
And he treated Stanton with every courtesy.
Wow again.
Well, the years wore on. The night came when the assassin’s bullet murdered Lincoln in the theatre. In the little room to which the President’s body was taken there stood that same Stanton that night, and, looking down on the silent face of Lincoln in all its ruggedness, Stanton said through his tears, “ There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen.”
The patience of love had conquered in the end.
Wow.
The WOW of patient love.
To whom do I/you need to show patient love?
Please let that question settle in your spirit.
I’m going to spend a moment thanking God for His patient love for me. And ask that His love flow through me to others. Even to my Stantons.
Maybe you could do the same.
[Adapted from The Daily Bible Study Series, by William Barclay]
Jody Flowers 