15th June 2024

Do the maths

As a student, I did pretty well in maths – until I got to trigonometry! I couldn’t make heads or tails of it, so that was my last maths class. I do remember a little bit of algebra, which might explain why I think of it when reading this verse: ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.’ (1 Corinthians 13:4, NIV).

There’s a formula here and it goes like this: God is love. Love is patient and kind. Therefore, God is patient and kind. We usually think of the Love chapter as prescriptive, telling us how we should behave. But if we do the maths, we see it as descriptive of the only One who truly is all the things listed in 1 Corinthians: ‘Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.’ (vv. 4-7 NLT). 

As we yield to and are led by the Holy Spirit, he fills our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5), sharing who he is with us, and we become more like him. Now that is some maths I can get my head around!

Study by Tammy Tkach

First published on 21 May 2024, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.

About the writer:
Tammy Tkach is the Assistant Pastor of the Eugene, Oregon, USA, Grace Communion International congregation. She is a speaker and writer, and publishes a blog at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com  

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