In this message, Stephen Davey begins Paul’s description of true love, emphasizing that love is not merely a feeling but an action—fifteen present-tense verbs that describe what love does and does not do. The first two—“love is patient” and “love is kind”—are surprising because they describe love at work in difficult circumstances and with difficult people. Love exercises patience (makrothumeō), meaning it has a long fuse and endures wrongs without retaliation. It’s not about patience with things, but with people—especially the irritating, disappointing, or unloving. Davey contrasts worldly sayings like “Don’t get mad—get even” with Christ’s command to endure suffering without revenge. True patience reflects divine strength—the fruit of the Spirit that bears long with others, as God does with us. Love demonstrates kindness, the active counterpart to patience. It not only endures injury but responds to it with generosity and grace. Paul’s command to “heap coals of fire” on one’s enemy means to show such kindness that it rekindles warmth in cold hearts. Kindness is not passive tolerance—it’s practical, sacrificial goodness, even toward enemies. Davey concludes that patience and kindness cannot exist apart from the Holy Spirit or apart from suffering. Each requires difficult people and hard circumstances to develop. Love, therefore, is not about pleasant emotion but costly obedience—Godlike behavior that surprises the world with undeserved patience and unexpected kindness.
Surprised by the Appearances of Love
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