Love Never Fails book 89 pg. & Ascension Life @class 11/5 by Dr. Simbeck The book expands on 1 Cor. Chap. 13 This is how God is with us in Jesus, In class he asked the students on how it applies to their lives. He noted David Wilkenson was led to go to NYC at risk and minister the gangs there- movie the Cross and Switch blade. Putting Love into action. James 1:19 “My dearly loved brothers,understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,Love is patient and kind; not easily angered; Courage movie Doesn’t dishonor or disrespect others, love keeps no record of wrongs. Intro: each phrase opens a view of the heart of God, showing what love does and who it like-Jesus. John 13:35 ”By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” In the book each phrase is expanded upon by chapter. This is not ordinary human love, but divine love.
Chap 2 Love is Patient This means long tempered long suffering, and active choice to hold steady. When people frustrate us we are tempted to lash out, but love is not easily , rushed, irritated or provoked. Jesus patience was not limited to his disciples; it extends to all of us. Rom 2:4 “the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” Ps. 103:8 “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love.” Patience means standing by someone when they disappoint you, forgiving when they hurt you, and waiting with them in times of struggle. Patience does not mean enabling sin or ignoring injustice, but speaking the truth at times. Love calls us to trust God’s timing. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance” Chap. 3 Love is Kind Patience is love’s long fuse, kindness is love’s warm hand. Kindness takes the next step to bless, to serve, to do good, to be useful, helpful, beneficial. Titus 3:4-5“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us.” Kindness may be as simple as bringing a meal to someone sick, as a smile to a stranger, holding open the door, or letting someone go ahead of you in line. Kindness has a ripple effect, it can soften someones heart, open the door for reconciliation, create a space for the gospel. Prov. 16:24 “Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.” To grow in kindness start noticing people; as Jesus did, he noticed the overlooked, a woman at the well, a tax collector. In a world that can be cold and cynical kindness stands out. Let’s pray He will give us the eyes to see the needs, and courage to act. Chap. 4 Love does not Envy. Now we start saying what love is not. Envy can resent and be bitter and corrosive which is not healthy. It can be subtle and lurk beneath our thoughts, saying- why not me? It shows up when another succeeds, or has a blessing we long for or do not have. At is core its about comparison and saying they are lifted up, I must be lower or forgotten. We need to know God’s generous and his resources are infinite. Cain envied Abel’s favor and killed him; Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Love does not see others blessing as a threat. Jesus praised the 72 that went out and did healings like him as in Luke 10:17-32. How can we grow in this kind of love? One key is gratitude and thank God for what we do have. Another key is trust in God and his timing to give blessings, as in Ps. 23. It is also good to just say a good word to them. Envy can be about many things: their blessings, personality, appearance, talents or relationships. If we feel left out, we can bring this to God for release and help. We need to have a sure identity that God loves us and wants the best for us. Chap. 5 Love does not Boast. Boasting or bragging is an attempt to make ourselves appear greater, to draw attention to our successes or talents. Boasting is the opposite of humility and can show insecurity at heart. Love is not self centered. Jesus showed some humility as in Phil. 2:6-7 “In God’s own form existed he, and shared with God equality, deemed nothing needed grasping. Instead, poured out in emptiness, a servant’s form did he possess, a mortal man becoming.” He was secure in his own identity and trusted the Father to exalt him at the right time. Paul said in 1 Corin. 1:31 “Let one who boasts boast in the Lord” Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, as we are friends of God given the Holy spirit by grace. We need to show gratitude for what God has done. This does not mean we are never to speak up when something needs to be clarified or corrected, but it means we are not driven to protect our image. Chap. 6 Love is not Proud. Pride binds our need for God, hardens our hearts toward correction, can fuel anger and envy, and can poison relationships. Pride was at the heart of Eve and Adam’s first sin, the desire to be like God and define and know Good and Evil. Pride can be loud and obvious and also quiet and subtle when we compare ourselves to others and feel superior. Jesus showed humility washing the disciples feet, touching lepers, welcoming children, eating with tax collectors and sinners. For us this can be cleaning up after dinner, or helping a friend in need. Pride can sow up in subtle ways when we refuse to apologize, or can’t bear to be corrected, or want to have the last word and insist on our own way. Humility is not weakness, but strength under control. To grow in humility we need to remember the cross and that we were a sinner saved by grace. Humility means being teachable and eager to learn. Pride says it already knows. Marriages are saved when we humble ourselves to the Lord. James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the Lord’s presence, and he will exalt you.” Chap. 7 Love does not Dishonor Others Love is not rude, does not humiliate, embarrass or disrespect others. Love seeks to lift others up and protect their honor. This is very relevant for today, our culture and social media thrives on dishonor, insults and a cancel culture. Paul says love builds up and restores, not cuts down and Jesus also restores. He lived in a world stratified by social class, gender,ethnicity and religious status. He honored women, children, tax collectors and Samaritans. A good example is the woman caught in adultery in John chap. 8. In marriage it means speaking kindly about your spouse in public and also building them up in private. 1 Thes. 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” but our natural tendency is the defend ourselves and strike back when hurt. Love refuses to gossip or shame others. Chap 8 Love is not self seeking. It’s a natural inclination that bends everything towards me; and asks what do I get out of this? And what will make me comfortable, secure and happy? This includes selfish ambition, greed, choosing convenience over compassion, wanting its own advantage. But Paul says love seeks the good of the other and is willing to give, serve and sacrifice and says in Phil 2:3-4 ”Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves. Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.” Jesus life was marked by self-giving love, to serve, heal and help others. Still self-seeking does not mean to become a doormat or neglecting healthy boundaries, or some necessary self care. Jesus took time away from the crowds to pray, rest and be refreshed. We cant produce this kind of love by ourselves, but by the aid of the holy spirit, prayer and bible reading, abiding in the vine. This is not a one time decision but a daily surrender. Chap. 9 Love is not easily angered. Nor is it irritable or easily provoked. It is the ability to keep calm under pressure and to resist the quick flare of a hot temper. Anger is not always wrong, as scripture says God got angry and so did Jesus in the cleansing of the temple. Anger can be righteous when its directed at true injustice of evil and it moves us to act for what is right. Hot anger can create an atmosphere of tension, hurt people with unkind words that we may later be sorry for. Love takes breath and thinks before responding, and seeks understanding before responding. Jesus gently corrected the disciples when they were in error, or argued about who was the greatest. When the pharisees questioned healing on Sunday he corrected them without anger and continued with the healing. Practically this means slowing down our response. James says in 1:19-20 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” Its important to examine the source of our anger. Is it our irritability or is it rooted in pride?- we may feel slighted, disrespected, or inconvenienced; or is it rooted in fear or insecurity? Jesus can help us with these in prayer and giving us more self control. Being slow to anger does not mean we allow ourselves to be mistreated without boundaries. Jesus at times walked away from those who would harm him. Chap. 10 Love keeps no record of wrongs. Keeping a record of wrongs might feel like self protection, but in reality it’s a prison. It traps us in bitterness, resentment and forgiveness. Jesus for gave those who hurt him because his heart is full of mercy. Paul says in Col. 2:13-14 “And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.” Still we do not put ourselves in harms way with no discernment. We can forgive someone and still set healthy boundaries. Forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same. To reconcile requires repentance and rebuilding of trust. We may need God’s help to forgive and He will help us if we ask. Chap 11. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. Love refuses to celebrate What is wrong, unjust, or sinful, and instead finds joy in what is true good and right.Love does not take pleasure in someone else’s pain even if they deserve it. God’s word in Ezek. 33:11 “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways! ” This is important to understand as our culture often confuses love with tolerance. Thus we must tell the truth with grace, rather than to remain silent. This can be challenging in a world that often prefers lies over truth. This means telling truth whenever we see it, not just in church but also in the world. We need the holy spirit to give us some discernment in this. I believe Charlie Kirk did this, and I have read his book Right Wing Revolution, 2024