True Love

How we live out true love!!

Love is patient!

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant - 1 Corinthians 13:4

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,

24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,

25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. - 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Why do we need patience?

Man struggles with this.

Everybody is different.

Some are chaotic, some structured, some soft spoken and some loud, some meek and some mild and so on.

Some have a different shape.

We see things differently.

S - spiritual gift

I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. - 1 Corinthians 7:7

H - heart

Your passion.

A - abilities

God given talents working together for God's glory.

P - personality 

Different emotional makeup.

This comes from the way you were raised. 

Values taught by your parents and grandparents.

We express things differently.

E - experiences

They also shape who you are.

Working different jobs, parenting, tragedies, triumphs 

God made you to be unique!

Our difference create misunderstandings.

For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:11

Three false assumptions 

1. Words mean the same thing to everybody.

I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you're aware of what you heard is what I meant!

2. There's only one way to see things.

It's not only black and white.

Some see things half empty while others see things half full.

3. My way is the only correct way.

This is true about there's only one way to salvation and that's Jesus!

We all know that there are many different ways to get to a location. 

How can we be more patient?

1. Remember God's patience with me.

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. - Romans 15:7

2. Learn by listening.

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.  - Proverbs 14:29

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.  - Proverbs 19:11

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.  - Proverbs 18:13

We always think it's somebody else that has the problem.

3. Treat others the way you desire to be treated.

What ever happened to us applying " the golden rule"?

"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. - Matthew 7:12

He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.  - Micah 7:19

Thanks Pastor Kevin!!!