Two-minute read.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
1 Corinthians 13:5b
Flexible attitude.
Love doesn’t require its way. Flexible and adaptable, love doesn’t get irritated or resentful. Living a lifestyle of love demands letting go of personal desires. Unconditional love means no conditions of any kind. In other words, if people don’t meet our expectations, we love them anyway.
“Let’s give each other space to be different and live in harmony,” my yoga teacher said during a recent class. Learning to love others well means we give them room to do things their way, not ours. We can point someone in the right direction, but we can’t get mad if they don’t choose to go that way.
Unfortunately, I failed many times in this aspect of love. As a spoiled brat, I insisted on my way; shame fills me when I think of my behavior in my younger years. Getting irritated when things didn’t go my way, resenting people for not doing things like I thought, I’m guilty of it all.
“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2 MSG
Living in a world that promotes “me-first” thinking, insisting on your way fits the cultural norm. Following Jesus promotes counter-cultural behavior because you come last; loving God and others first fulfills the Great Commandment. When we begin to live like Christ, He transforms our lives from the inside out. Changing our thinking and becoming more like Jesus will help us have grace for others, not insisting on our way but adopting a flexible attitude that puts love first.
Putting love into action will cause you to become less demanding, more accepting, and appreciative of people. Love grows, multiplying as it takes root in your heart, blossoming and filling you with hope for future things. As you share unconditional affection with others, they will begin to bloom. And on and on it goes, love in motion, lighting the world for all.
Love Challenge:
Practice a flexible attitude today with people. When things don’t go as expected, exemplify grace by not demanding your way, and resist getting irritated and resentful by focusing your thoughts on God’s unconditional love for you.
