Love With All Your Heart...series...chapter 1

Our "Love With All Your Heart" series - chapter 1:



1

Love is patient and long suffering.

Ted was at his wits' end. He had had many difficulties in his life, and he was tired of them. He felt that his marriage was intolerable. His wife didn't meet his needs, and besides, she nagged and criticized him continually. Ted was full of bitterness towards God. He had built up deep feelings of resentment toward his wife. Recently, she had become ill, and he was expected to care for her. It seemed more than he could bear. His treatment of his wife fluctuated between ignoring her with an icy indifference and erupting in a vicious attack of stinging words. Ted was desperate; he just wanted out. He considered divorce, murder, suicide, and many other variations of escape. He deserved better than this, he thought. He just had to find a way our of this miserable existence. Then one day Ted came face to face with the claims of God's love as found in the Bible:

 

"Love suffers long...." 1 Corinthians 13:4

 

"...strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power,

for all patience and longsuffering with joy."

Colossians 1:11

 

    Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

 

    The end of a thing is better than its beginning;

The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

 

    But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life,

 purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,   

2 Timothy 3:10

 

However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.   

1 Timothy 1:16

 

But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God:

in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,

2 Corinthians 6:4

 

Love is patient and calm under abuse.

Love patiently accepts adverse circumstance and unkind treatment.

When a trial or tragedy occurs that disturbs plans, when other's actions cause disappointment, love will keep one's spirit in a restful, unruffled state, enabling one to rise above the difficulty.

Love gives peace that is not affected by any circumstances.
Love accepts any inconvenience calmly and deals with it in a joyful frame of mind.

No matter how difficult the problem, how trying the circumstances, or how lengthy the trial, love is long suffering with an attitude of expectant rejoicing.