Love is Patient and Kind

“Love never gives up. Love cares for others more than for self” (I Corinthians 13:1).

This story reminds me of how often we make judgements about situations or people without knowing the facts. How wrong we can be.

A bus stopped and one of the passengers noticed a father with several children getting on. The children were very unruly. They wouldn’t sit still and kept changing seats and fighting — all the annoying things that children do when they are out of control.

The father had sat down beside a man who became quite annoyed, thinking, “Why doesn’t he control his children?” Finally, he could take it no longer. He turned to the father and blurted, “Your children are out of control. Why don’t you do something?”

“Yes,” the father replied, “I suppose you are right. But you see, we have just come from the hospital. Their mother died this morning. They don’t know how to handle it and neither do I.”

Wow! Talk about blowing it.

So often our judgments are based on outward appearances. We base them on hearsay or our limited experience. God looks at people’s hearts. Isaiah 11:3 has this to say about Christ, “He will not judge by the way things look. He will not judge by what people say.”

The more we allow Christ to take control of our lives, the less likely we will be to make quick judgements about people or believe rumors. As we ask Him to put His love in our hearts, we will become more like Him.

Lord Jesus, Your love is perfect. Thank You for being so patient and kind with us. When You judge and discipline us, it is because You know all the facts and it is for our good. Love always rules everything You do. We, on the other hand, are so often harsh and self-righteous when analyzing the actions of others. Today, we confess our critical and unkind attitudes to You and ask Your Spirit to enable us to be patient and kind. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

Further Reading