“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I’m told in 1 Corinthians 13:1, New Living Translation, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
My question is, “What do I do when I come in contact with the ‘noisy gong’ who doesn’t care they’ve messed with my song?
I need new revelation – To keep me breathing, to keep me sane. “O God -They’re difficult, they’re hard, they don’t bend, they don’t hear. Things just aren’t ‘going my way’, help me remember what You have to say.
Your word, in the Book of James, chapter 1, in verse two: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,…”
I will say it right here, “I’m not having fun. What’s going on? All I want to do naturally, is … Run!
I pray, ‘Our Father in heaven,’ I run to Your arms. ‘Holy is Your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done,’ Help me now. This moment in time – give me transformation.
Difficult people chase the ‘love’ right out the door. I search and find, the ‘patience box’ empty -de nada, there is simply, no more.
Forget about the ‘yellow’ card, to give warning there’s a problem. But with solution to work it out that it might again be set and in order,
This is the ‘red card’ brought to the table, no solution in sight. But it’s brought to You, God Almighty, who sees me inside and out. You know my thoughts and my weaknesses, (plural) …
‘O God, help me now. You clearly see, I’m not counting it ‘all joy’. My heart is on fire – You see the mess. I look for patience, and can’t find it on hand. There is none, no reserve –
Give me patience, dear Lord Jesus, and now, I insist!“
People watch – when a believer in Christ suffers trial, so … I open up Spurgeon, (he’s like a grandpa to me) and I thumb through the pages and then stop to read:
He writes: “After much crying, the child is weaned.”(1)
“Patience enables us to bear ill-treatment, slander, and injury without resentment. We feel it keenly, but bear it meekly. Like our Master, we don’t open our mouths to reply; we refuse to return shout for shout. We give blessing in return for cursing, …”
This truly is wisdom, but I desperately need some rehearsing.
“…like the sandalwood tree that perfumes the axe that cuts it.”
“I keep thinking, ‘Why can’t they stop fighting? Will they ever stop? “Why can’t she … Why can’t he …?”
Then I hear Your still small voice, “Because I’m doing a great work of patience … in thee.”
And suddenly I see my Savior walking the road to Calvary, with a cross on His back, and realize, …
He did this for me.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way.
My ears are open Lord. Let me hear You speak: “Dear brothers and sisters,
when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
If you need wisdom, ask your generous Father, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. This is James 1:2-5.
OK, Lord, I ask for wisdom, and transformation. That I might have Your heart in mine. Help me put on Your love, and take off my vengeful garments, that I might ‘suffer long and be kind.’
God’s love is ‘not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It doesn’t rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
God’s Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13, familiar, yet today, so new. This is written for me. I receive it, but I seek You God to carry it through.
Jesus keep working on me, give me wisdom, give me Your power, for each coming day, but especially, this hour.”
If you join me today in your struggle and trial, Spurgeon encourages with this: “If the grace of God by trial will work this in you, then you have gained a solid weight of character.”
so let us say, “Amen, Amen.” And rejoice in our pain because God is working for us great gain. And we, all know, we will be tested, again, and again, and … until heaven – Haleluiah
(1) Beside Still Waters, CH Spurgeon, page 324.
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