Talking about a new kind of love

My two-year-old niece and I were deep into an episode of “Bluey” when an ad popped onto the screen, interrupting our show. My niece, Elina, began yelling, Bluey, at the television when her momma was quick to correct her actions, telling her to be patient.

Without missing a beat, Elina looks at her mommy and says, “I don’t want to be patient.”

I laughed, of course, because let’s face it. She said what I’ve wanted to say countless times. Difference is she’s two and can get away with it.

We live in, what I’ve heard said is a microwave society. A J.G. Wentworth, I want it now, culture. The days of “patience is a virtue” and “good things come to those that wait” are far gone. As is Elina’s patience with YouTube ads.

While praying about what to share with you, I’m reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:4, which begins with stating that love is patient. And that’s enough said.

Patience is something this gal struggles with. And my love toward others isn’t often as patient as it needs to be. I’d love to pass the buck on to my humanity. Give you the, I’m only human, speech. But God. He tears my buck to shreds as He put on flesh and shows up clothed in humanity and offers us a love unlike any other. A love that is indeed patient. A love that held Him to the cross of Calvary and a love that causes Him to be patient in His return for His bride because He doesn’t want anyone to miss it. And it’s this love. This patient, kind, selfless, hopeful, burden bearing, true, and enduring love that Christ calls us to.

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:34-35 CSB

This “new” command wasn’t really that new. It’s the way He loved that was new. It was different. And it’s that same different love that we are called to share with others. Even the others we’d rather throat punch. The others who don’t deserve it. The others who push our buttons. The others who … fill in the blank.

Jesus wants us to share HIS perfect and patient love with even them. Not because they deserve it. If that were the case, you can count us out too. They don’t deserve such love anymore than we do. We share it because Christ shared it. We love because Christ loved us first. And His love is so radical, so patient, so kind, that we can’t help but overflow with it onto those around us.

I know this goes against everything culture screams at us. And truthfully, getting up tomorrow morning and deciding to love more patiently won’t work. To love like Jesus, He must fill you with His love. When you truly experience, understand (Ephesians 3:18), and are full of His love, it can’t help but flow from you.

Like Elina with YouTube ads, it’s easy for us to look at the people around us and choose not to be patient in loving them.

But I would dare say that you may not have been the easiest to love either. Yet, Jesus was and is still patient in His love for you. Let His love permeate you and then watch as it flows from you and onto those near you.

“and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,” — Ephesians 3:17-18 CSB

Cassie Downs, formerly of the Ellsinore area, is a speaker and the author of Chasing Jesus. Connect with her online at cassiedowns.com. Her book is available online where most books are sold.