1 Corinthians 13 is well-known for its profound description of love. There is so much wisdom jam-packed into that one short chapter that many of the words get leap-frogged and passed over.

So let’s pause for a moment on these three: “Love is patient…” (verse 4)

Here’s a very practical application about how to be loving and patient at the same time: “It’s better to sleep on what you plan to do, than to be kept awake by what you’ve done” (Anonymous).

How good is that? Since we are called to be people of love, we are called to be people of patience. To be deliberate, not reactionary; to be wise, not foolish; and to be understanding, instead of just always assuming the worst.

Are you tempted to flail, wail, and acrimoniously accuse? Be honest.

If so, maybe you should sleep on it. “It’s better to sleep on what you plan to do, than to be kept awake by what you’ve done.”

Since we are called to be people of love, we are called to be people of patience.

By Matthew Ruttan

—Wondering what to get someone for Christmas? (Hint, hint, wink, wink.) Perhaps my book “Turbulence: Devotionals to steady you through the storms of life” (available on Amazon here) is just what someone needs.

—This Sunday at Westminster at 10:01am EST I’ll be teaching about patience in suffering in message based on James 5:1-12.

–“Up!” is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and resumes on November 23.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.