Bible Study
To live victoriously is to always overcome, to always conquer, to always prevail, to always triumph, to win all the time. The only requirement for living victoriously is to be born of God (1 John 5:4).
Please read up on ‘The Scope of the ChristianVictory’ in Part 2 and ‘How Christians Became Victorious’ in Part 3, ‘How Faith, Love and Hope Mix Together for Victorious Christian Living’ in Part 4, and in Part 5 we considered ‘Victory Through Love: The Nature of God’s Love’.
Today, we continue with ‘Victory Through Love: Characteristics of Love’.
Characteristics Of God-Kind Of Love
These are the expressions of love as we find listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8….
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
I Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV
The first time I was led to really study this portion of scripture, I told myself; ‘Grace, you haven’t been loving as you should‘. I am still learning to love as God loves.
Philippians 1:9-10 should be every Christian’s prayer (for themselves and others)..
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:9-11 NKJV
How do you love?
It is helpful to compare what we think love is with what 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says…. I believe this practice will help us grow in our love walk.
Love Suffers Long……Is Kind……It Bears All Things…..It Endures All Things…..
Do you have very little or no tolerance for unpleasant experiences or situations?
Are you impatient? Do you often hear yourself saying ….‘I can’t take this anymore‘ in unpleasant situations. Are you quick to disengage from discomforts?
Do you struggle with showing empathy or sympathy to others?
There is room to grow in patience and endurance. Tap into the God-love nature already at work in you through the Holy Spirit.
Kindness is motivated from within, and is focused on doing what is right for others even when there’s no obvious personal gain.
Love Does Not Envy, …Does Not Parade Itself….. Is Not Not Puffed Up
Do you feel resentment at someone else’ achievement, possession, or qualities? Do you sometimes think you’re best suited for these things except that perhaps the other person is more fortunate or lucky?
Would you sometimes feel better if you were recognized as contributing to people’s achievements, possessions or qualities? (happens!). Worst still, do you quickly arrange and project your own achievements, possessions and qualities instead of recognizing and rejoicing with the other person?
Humility always puts the other person first.
Love Does Not Behave Rudely…...Is Not Provoked
Are you impolite and bad-mannered? Are you harsh, brash or abrupt in your dealings with others?
Do you get easily enraged, angered and exasperated?
It’s a great virtue to be slow to anger, slow to speak but quick to listen. We are all work in progress and with the help of the Holy Spirit and our commitment our love will be perfected.
Love Thinks No Evil…..Does Not Rejoice In Iniquity…….
Do you catch yourself sometimes hatching a revenge, thinking of how best to get even with someone, or actually thinking of eliminating someone for a personal gain? Do you feel relieved or sad when something bad happens to someone you considered an enemy? More like…….serves him right! ……..if only he listened to me………. if only he didn’t come up against me……..etc,….etc,… That is not God-kind of love.
The love of God is unconditional and selfless.
Love Believes All Things, Hopes All Things, Endures All Things.
Do you quickly forget your testimonies and past victories when faced with new challenges? Do your problems becloud your thoughts, decisions and actions rather than letting the Word lead?
The Christian walk is a walk of faith.
In recent times, I find myself ‘talking to myself’; ‘Grace, you’re the righteous, you live by faith”. That may sound funny but faith thinks and acts according to the Word of God. We all need to be reminded about that.
Faith says what the Word says, it doesn’t speak problems or unpleasant circumstances. To love as God loves is a faith walk in itself. And a 1 Corinthians 13-based love confession is something to consider; to keep saying what God’s Word says about you. Amen!
