Reading notes Week 77 - Love is not...prickly!


Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things  I Corinthians 13:4-7  Some versions say “love is not irritable or resentful”.  While that is true and accurate, I like this one that says “love is not provoked”. As my husband says, "love is not prickly!" What a great concept! A wise friend of mine shared with me that he and his wife pray to “not be offended”.  That gave me so much to ponder – I had not ever thought to pray that before, but what a wonderful thing to do!  LOVE is not easily offended, does not get provoked, does not become irritable or resentful.  Let’s unpack it further… The Greek word that we translate as “provoked” or “irritable” or “offended” is paroxuno. It is defined as “sharpness of spirit, to be irritated or incensed”.  From this we see that love cannot be sharpened to react towards others with an irritation of spirit.  In other words, love would never say “She makes me so mad!” or “He annoys me!”.  A characteristic of love is to be good-natured and peaceful, even when being mistreated.  No spewing of temper, no outburst of exasperation, no hyper-sensitivity, no taking offense, no resentment,  no temper tantrum…regardless of the action of others. When we are controlled by the Spirit, we will not be quick to take offense, to be “prickly”.  Instead, the disruptions and disappointments and disturbances of life are met with a confidence that God is always at work, causing all things to work together for His glory and for the good of those who love Him.  This assurance enables us to meet all circumstances (and all peoples) with a sweetness of temper, a gentleness of attitude, and a genuinely optimistic outlook. Love.  It is not easily provoked.  It does not anger easily nor react with irritability nor take offense.  Let’s ask the Lord to produce that maturity of love within us as well.    

Reading notes - week 75 If only.....

 It seems to be human nature to wonder if one's life would be different (aka better...) if one's life circumstances were different (aka better...).  We sometimes think "if only I had been born in a different place" or to different parents or in another time or socioeconomic situation, "life might be better".  Maybe, instead of thinking "if only", we feel guilty that we don't have adverse beginnings to overcome and feel compelled to succeed lavishly so as to "earn" the good life spot we've been given.

This week's Wednesday's Word is a passage that explains the " why, when, where, and to whom" you were born. 

Acts 17:26,27
And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him.

God, in His loving sovereignty, orchestrated all the details of your birth and mine  to put us in exactly the right spot so that we would seek Him.  Whatever circumstances best cultivated the soil of our hearts to receive the Good News of our need for Him and His gift of grace are the ones He designed for us.  "Having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place".  When and where and to whom.  Not an accident.  Not an oversight or a tragedy.  But rather purposed with love..."that they should seek God".  "And perhaps feel their way toward Him...and find Him"