Thought For Today: “Love is Patient”

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

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

Have you ever wondered where that expression comes from? Horse trainers use goats to calm their racehorses. They would tie the horses 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, even though we have every right to be angry. Love bears the wounds of outrageous fortune and doesn’t strike back.

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