God's Ways Are NOT My Ways: 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a. NIV
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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."

I've been studying in John recently, and struck by Jesus' words in chapter 6. He claims that He is the bread of life, and that anyone who believes in Him, and comes to Him, will not be be turned away, and will have life. I've experienced this in the desperate times (take that with a grain of salt...we live a very comfortable life), and the times that are not as desperate.  When I come to the Lord who is nearer than a breath, He breathes life to my soul with scripture, with song. I'm reminded of how Aslan breaths life into the cold, lifeless animals in the White Witch's fortress in the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. As I read His word and talked with Him this morning, He revived my soul and brought new perspective.

I came to Him this morning from within a deep rut. I recognized the place instantly, and thankfully recognized that there were hand holds and foot holds, and then the hand of Jesus reached down and I was able to easily step out of the rut. In the past I haven't seen it as such, and the way of escape hasn't always been so easily visible. Of course, in the past I've set up house in the rut and maybe enjoyed being there for a time. Goodness. But this morning was different.

John 6:45 "It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me."

I sat down with a cup of coffee in the silence of the morning, and even as I spoke my heart to the Father, He directed my mind to the passage in 1 Corinthians, "love is patient." It stilled my heart. As I went to grab my Bible I looked around me. I saw evidence of my family's life. Toys, laundry, books, school books, papers to grade, and grad school application documents. It reminded me that I am just a part of something bigger that was going on around me, and the fact that the needs I have are just some of the many ongoing needs of my family. They will be met, and met best in the loving, life-giving, words of Jesus.

He proclaims, "My love is patient, my love is kind." I was reminded of the times when I've experienced God's patient forgiveness and kindness and my heart softened and was reminded to trust God with my needs. In addition to that, I was reminded that my love for my family is best displayed in patience and kindness. The title of this post speaks of the difference between the ways of God and the ways man. My way is to be self-centered, short-sighted, and self-serving. God's ways are patient, kind, others focused, and everything else we see in the 1 Corinthians passage. God's definition of love in this passage is something He has already lived out time and time again. We see it on display from the very beginning of Genesis, all the way to the very end of Revelation. The magnitude of His fulfillment of this passage is beyond what I, or anyone else, can imagine. This puts my sighings to bed, and with this new perspective I continue on in my day with great HOPE that any need I have is met in the perfect love of God and His Son, Jesus.

I have been subbing for a month now, and everywhere I go I see learning targets. Here are today's learning targets:

I can trust God to meet my every need because His love for me is patient, kind, and on display in an infinite amount of ways.
I can show love that is patient and kind, no matter what the circumstances because it is inspired by the love God has for me.