Wednesday, February 20, 2019
1 Corinthians 13:4 . . . Love is patient and kind . . .
DIVINE LOVE IS . . .
Martin Luther once compared God's ways in our lives to a Hebrew book which must be read backwards. Even so, he declares, we should believe that, when life is ended -- that is, when God's purposes have been accomplished in our lives -- we will be able to retrace His ways and understand why He dealt with us as He did.
That's likely the message author Joseph Scriven wants to convey in his hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." We read that on the day before his wedding his fiancée drowned in a boating accident. Shattered, he left Ireland to start anew in Canada, where yet another bride-to-be grew sick and died. Ten years later word came that his mother was very ill; again he turned to the only thing that anchored his life, his Christian faith, and wrote the story of his life in the three short verses of the much appreciated hymn.
Another ingredient of DIVINE LOVE is kindness (rather than bitterness or resentment). "His merciful kindness is great towards us" says the psalmist (117:2). Again and again God's merciful kindness has called us back from the path of sin; His merciful kindness has made full provision for our forgiveness through Jesus; through baptism we have been adopted as His children for time and eternity.
Joseph Scriven was inspired by such holy gospel truths. The same truths also inspire us toward a patient and kind attitude with our God; and then too with other people -- that slow driver in front of us, the neighbor who gets under our skin, those little annoying traits of even our children or our spouse.
With the apostle we pray for such fruits of the Spirit as " . . . love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . ." (Galatians 5:22f).
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a Friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness -- Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our Refuge -- Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace* there.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 457:2-3)
* comfort in distress
