Minutes of Mercy

“Love, The More Excellent Way” 1 Corinthians 13:5, “Charity…is not easily provoked”

“Not easily provoked” does not mean that we don’t get frustrated or irritated. It means that we do not allow those things to control us. When we live easily provoked, people stop seeing Christ, and start seeing you. We reflect Christ to others when we have reasons to lash out, but refuse to be easily provoked.

“Love, The More Excellent Way” 1 Corinthians 13:5, “Charity…seeketh not her own”

The clear evidence of Christlike love within us is not how loudly we speak about it, but whether or not we’re willing to lay down our wants for the good of somebody else. We love like Christ when we live in this way? As we listen today, ask yourself which of these type of questions does my love seek the answer to? “What’s in it for me? Or what’s in it for them?”

“Love, The More Excellent Way” 1 Corinthians 13:5, “Charity, Doth not behave itself unseemly

Charity refuses to treat people in a way that Christ has never treated me. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should, just because you could say it, doesn’t mean you should. Sometimes the most Christlike response is restraint, especially if that response would be “unseemly” Let’s take a good look in the mirror and examine whether or not our love reflects Christ or would fall into the category of being “unseemly”

Love, The More Excellent Way” 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Charity…. Vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

If nobody thanked me, if nobody noticed, if nobody patted me on the back, or posted about it. Would I still do what I do with the same passion? Real charity doesn’t need the spotlight, because it says this.. If Christ gets the glory, that is enough. Often the purest forms of love are the unseen acts. We know that while they may not be recognized here… God always takes notice and that is enough! Does your “love” vaunt itself? Is it puffed up?

“Love, The More Excellent Way” 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Charity envieth not…”

Envy divides. Love celebrates. We must look to the most perfect example of love, the Lord Jesus Christ, for our example in this. He who is worthy of everything “made Himself of no reputation.” Let’s not make the mistake of envying what God is doing in someone else’s life because we’ve made ourselves of some sort of reputation, thinking we’re more deserving. Am I doing more competing or loving?