The head of the China Inland Mission once challenged those of us listening to him to read I Corinthians l3 - the love chapter - everyday for a month. He warned that we would be very surprised at the realization of how little love there actually was in our hearts. I followed his advice and found that he was so right. Within a few days I noticed my lack of patience, genuine kindness, and weak endurance in loving others.
I also realized that the l6 characteristics of love listed in verses 4-8 were literally a description of God Himself. The Bible says clearly and so simply, “God is love.” These l6 qualities of character tell me what God is like. God does not envy, boast, act rudely, get angry quickly, etc. If you want to know who God is, this is the answer.
I got inspired to do all sorts of studies and projects and having to do with this wonderful chapter. Over the next few months, I’d love to share some of them with you on my web page.
The first thing I began doing was using the 16 qualities as my "conflict checklist". My sister Becky’s husband, David, is a flight captain with Miami Air. When he flew us as a family in small airplanes to our concerts years ago, I remember him going through the flight checklist with his copilot before takeoff. Every single time they deliberately checked to see if everything was working. You can’t be several thousand feet off the ground and discover the wing flaps are stuck. You’ll crash.
When a conflict comes up, before I take off, I make a conscious self-check through the I Cor. 13 list of l6 love qualities. Do I feel total patience with the person? Am I filled with kindness towards him or her? Do I have any envy of the person that would distort the truth in the situation? Am I totally humble about everything, or do I feel like I’m "the right one"? Am I going to handle my feelings and tongue with rudeness in order to “elbow my way ahead” and win this conflict? Am I only self-seeking in solving the problem, or am I willing to come to a joint agreement that would benefit the other person? Is this confrontation because of short fuses, “temper-temper!” or my genuine wish to solve something? Am I reviewing my mental list which I’ve kept of all the previous wrongs of that person? Am I relishing conflict (Proverbs 17:19 says “He who loves a quarrel loves sin...”) or looking joyfully forward to finding the truth in the situation? Do I feel like protecting the person or causing harm? Do I have cynical distrust or total trust that God is in the process of maturing this person (and me!)? Am I filled with hope for the solution? Am I willing to keep on towards a solution when there’s none in sight? Am I going to fail by giving up or make a deliberate decision to love?
Pretty long checklist of l6 love qualities to go through, huh? By the time I think through that whole thing, the Holy Spirit has usually done His miracle in my heart so I don’t crash my relationships. When my folks were helping my brother and sisters and I stop quarrels from breaking out when we were little kids, they’d have us quote Proverbs 29:ll, “A fool uttereth all his mind, but a wise man keepeth it til afterwards.” Slow down, back up, take a deep breath and count to . . . l6!
Currents Thoughts:
Sharing my heart about the violin album songs.
Former Thoughts:
Violin Tragedy
The Love Chapter Part I
The Love Chapter Part II
Songs from the violin album.
Morning Devotions
Developing talents and using them for God.
Murk Family Trio, Cassettes and CD's, Jim's Writings,
From Mom's Heart, Portraits of the Lord Jesus,
Thoughts from Beverly, Ferndale Christian Retreat Center,
Family Letters, Angel Foundation Ministries