April 30: 1 Corinthians 13:4 — The Love God Produces (Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest)

 

1 Corinthians 13:4 

“Love suffers long and is kind…”

Chambers teaches that true love is spontaneous — it appears in our actions without our noticing, because it comes from the Holy Spirit, not from our own effort.

We cannot make ourselves loving by saying, “I will be patient,” or “I will be kind.” That kind of self‑management only produces strain. The love Scripture describes does not begin in us. It begins in God. It is His love “poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5).

But here is the part many of us miss: that love does not flow freely until the Holy Spirit has full authority within us. He indwells every believer, but He does not override the will. As long as we are still governing ourselves — trying, striving, managing — His love cannot rule our responses. We pray for patience, but keep our will. We ask for kindness, but hold on to control. And so we strain, because we are still the ones trying to produce what only God can give.

Some believers experience this transformation at salvation when they come to Christ in total surrender, but for most of us, the will is not fully yielded in that moment — which is why the change is partial, slow, or resisted until surrender truly happens.

For a deeper look at how surrender opens the way for the Spirit's work, see the April 10 devotional: 

A Decision That Changes Everything

When the will is surrendered, the Spirit is finally free to work without resistance. Then His love appears in us without effort — patience rising where irritation once lived, kindness showing up where self‑protection used to rule. Often, we only recognize it afterward. We look back and realize we responded with a calmness or generosity that did not come from our natural self. That is the evidence of His love at work. The life of God is often seen most clearly in hindsight.

Chambers warns that when we try to prove our love for God, we reveal that we are still relying on ourselves. But when His love is active within us, it flows quietly and without strain. We cannot explain why we responded the way we did — we only know that His nature was shaping our actions.

The source of this love is not our personality, discipline, or emotional strength.

The source is God Himself — and His love flows where His Spirit is free to rule.
Romans 8:9 — the Spirit governs those who belong to Christ
Galatians 5:17 — the flesh resists the Spirit
Romans 12:1 — present your bodies as a living sacrifice

Prayer 
Lord, Your love is the life that flows through me — 

a spontaneous love only Your Spirit can produce. 

Your patience, kindness, and mercy are the quiet evidence of 

Your nature at work within me. 

Thank You for the love You have poured into my heart.

 In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Breath Prayer 
Inhale: Your love in me 

Exhale: Your Spirit ruling me

~ Quil

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Scripture references:

1. “True love is spontaneous… it comes from the Holy Spirit, not from our own effort.”
   Romans 5:5 — God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
   Galatians 5:22 — the fruit of the Spirit is love.
   1 John 4:7 — love is from God.

2. “We cannot make ourselves loving by saying, ‘I will be patient,’ or ‘I will be kind.’”
   1 Corinthians 13:4 — love is patient, love is kind.
   John 15:5 — apart from Me you can do nothing.
   Philippians 2:13 — God works in you to will and to act.

3. “The love Scripture describes does not begin in us. It begins in God.”
   1 John 4:19 — we love because He first loved us.
   Ephesians 3:17–19 — rooted and grounded in love.
   Titus 3:4–6 — the kindness and love of God appeared.

4. “We only recognize it afterward — calmness or generosity that did not come from our natural self.”
   Galatians 2:20 — Christ lives in me.
   Colossians 1:27 — Christ in you, the hope of glory.
   Ezekiel 36:26–27 — a new heart and Spirit within you.

5. “Trying to prove our love reveals we are relying on ourselves.”
   1 Samuel 16:7 — the Lord looks at the heart.
   Matthew 6:1 — do not practice righteousness to be seen.
   John 14:23 — if anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.

6. “When His love is active within us, it flows without effort.”
   John 7:38 — rivers of living water will flow.
   Romans 8:14 — led by the Spirit of God.
   Galatians 5:25 — live by the Spirit.

7. “The source of this love is not our personality, discipline, or emotional strength — the source is God Himself.”
   James 1:17 — every good and perfect gift is from above.
   Psalm 36:9 — in Your light we see light.
   2 Corinthians 3:5 — our sufficiency is from God.