Thought For Today: “Love is Patient”

Paul’s definition of love says, “Love is patient.” (1 Corinthians 13:4a)

Paul uses the word for “slow anger,” and so love is slow at getting angry. When love is present, not much will provoke us, but when we’re filled with anger almost everything will get our goat.

Have you ever wondered where that expression comes from? Horse trainers use goats to calm down their racehorses. They would tie them to goats. So, when someone’s got your goat, they’ve taken away your ability to calm your horse giving them the advantage.

Love refuses to give way to anger when we’ve been wronged, and we have every right to get angry. Love suffers the wounds of outrageous fortune and doesn’t strike back.

Even when Jesus was abused and reviled, He didn’t speak back or return evil for evil. Instead, He blessed them saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)