What If Love Is A Daily Choice

We read 1 Corinthians 13:4 the way Paul meant it, as a mirror for a divided, competitive world and a clear picture of Jesus. We tell modern stories that expose impatience, hurt, envy, and pride, then we ask the heart-check questions that lead us back to kindness, humility, and gratitude. 
• Paul’s love passage as a correction for conflict and pride 
• Patience as a choice that values people over convenience 
• Kindness as strength under control, not weakness 
• Envy as comparison that blinds us to our own blessings 
• Humility that serves instead of seeking credit 
• A weekly soul check on patience, kindness, gratitude, and pride 
• Love that grows deep roots before it shows fruit 
If you don't have a relationship with Christ, you got to get it right. 
And if you like the podcast, please share it with somebody. 

Transcript

A Tribute To The Misfits

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Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see the world differently, who don't fit neatly into boxes, and refuse to live by someone else's script. You can quote them, you can disagree with them, you can glorify them or vilify them, you can shake your head at their ideas or be inspired by their courage. But the one thing you cannot do is ignore them. Because they change things. They disrupt what's comfortable, they challenge what's normal, and they push the human race forward. Sometimes with loud revolutions, sometimes with quiet persistence that changes everything over time. They see possibility where others see limits. They dare to dream out loud when the world tells them to be silent. They take risks, they stumble, they rise again, and they keep going. Not because it's easy, but because they can't imagine doing anything else. These are the ones who remind us that every great leap forward was once considered impossible. So here's to them: the ones who won't sit down, won't be quiet, and won't stop until the world is different. Because they're the reason it will be.

Wellness Sponsorship And Mission

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God created a spirit, soul, and body. So caring for our health matters. Trainot offers wellness products designed to support your body so you can live with strength and purpose. So let's strengthen the body, let's fund the mission, and let's build the legacy.com or to actually not.com for to actually hello.

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We would like to welcome you to the first Facebook with my husband, your host, B-rob. So without further ado, here's B-rob.

1 Corinthians 13:4 In Context

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Hey guys, it's B-Rob, and uh just want to welcome you back to the Food for Thought Faith Cast today. It's Friday, June 12th, and um it's another one of those beautiful days that God gave us. Um our scripture today, our podcast today, our lesson today comes from 1 Corinthians 13 4. Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Many people know this verse from weddings, greeting cards, art on the wall that's framed. But Paul wasn't writing wedding vows, he was writing to a church filled with conflict, competition, division, pride, and people trying to prove who was more spiritual than everybody else. So if you think about that, look at modern day. So Paul is actually writing like about people like us, right? So today let's dive in and explore the verse. And I'm gonna use some modern parables and some practical reflections, if you will, that challenge us to ask a simple question. What does real love look like when nobody's watching? Right?

Patience At The Grocery Line

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So imagine, if you will, a man stopped at a grocery store after working 12 hours. And I can relate to this phone, his phone has been going off all day. Of course, his boss has been on his butt all day. His kids have been calling and texting him and waiting for him to get home. His wife. Like he just wanted to go in the grocery store, get through the self-checkout line or the checkout line and leave. So he gets what he needs real quick, just like a man. We go in, we get exactly what we need. Um, I think I'm the only man on the planet that gets distracted and buys $100 worth of more stuff, but that's that's, you know, me. But he goes in, gets what he wants, and he gets in line. Unfortunately, he ends up behind an elderly woman, and she was struggling to counter money. And the line grew longer. People sighed, and you could hear the tension, you could feel the tension, you could see it on their face. One customer rolls their eyes dramatically, the other one switches lanes back and forth. And the man trying to just get home to his to his uh family felt irritation rising inside of him. Then he remembered something his grandfather once told him. You never know if you're going to be delayed by inconvenience or invited into compassion. So he waited patiently. When the woman finally finished paying, she turned around and quietly said to him, Thank you for being patient. My husband used to do this part. He passed away last month, and I'm still learning. You see, suddenly that delay or that impatience the man was feeling wasn't a delay. It was just a grieving widow trying to navigate life without the person she loved the most. So the man then realized something. Patience is often love wearing work clothes. Guys, most of us imagine patience as a feeling. But scripture presents patience as a choice. You see, patience isn't merely staying calm. Patience is deciding that another person's humanity matters more than our convenience does. God demonstrates this towards us every day. Think about it. How many times have we promised God we'd do better and we failed? How many times has he extended that grace and that mercy again over and over and over? The patience of God is one of the greatest demonstrations of his love. And we as followers of Jesus, we have to show patience in us. Because his patience should begin showing up in us if we are true followers of Yeshua.

Kindness That Chooses Compassion

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Imagine, if you will, this a woman. She remembered every birthday in her family, cousins, everything. Sounds like my mother when she was younger. She sent cards, she made calls, she bought gifts. Then one year, her own birthday came and went. She didn't get a card, she didn't get a phone call. There was no celebration. So by the time dinner time rolls around, she was feeling hurt. She was feeling lonely. She sat there by herself wondering if anyone cared. The next morning, she received a text message from her brother, her younger brother. It said, Sorry I missed your birthday. Things have been rough. I have been struggling more than I have told anyone. So when her brother said that, in that moment, in that very moment, God gave her a choice. She could focus on her own hurt, or she could focus on the hurt that he carried. So being the woman that she was, being the woman of compassion, she chose compassion. Instead of saying, no, you forgot my birthday. No. Never let it happen again. No. You know what she said? She said, Can you tell me what you're going through? So the beginning of the conversation begins with healing. You see, love is kind. But you see, a lot of people mistake kindness for weakness, but it's not. Kindness is not weakness. Kindness is actually power. Kindness is actually strength under control. Kindness chooses to see beyond offenses and selfishness and greed. Kindness asks, what burden might this person be carrying? You see, the world often celebrates selfishness, but God celebrates kindness. You see, a sarcastic comment can go viral. But a kind word can save a life. And the fact is, we may never know how many people are hanging on by a thread. We never know how many people are just waiting for someone to treat them with just one little bitty ounce of dignity.

Envy And Social Comparison Traps

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Imagine, if you will, a young content creator, social media content creator. He spent his whole day scrolling every day and making content. Each time he opens his phone, he sees a perception of someone doing better. Someone who has more followers than him. Someone who has a bigger house than him. It could be a him or a her. Someone on vacation. Someone just seemed happier, more successful. And at first, at first, you admire them. Then that admiration becomes comparison. Then that comparison becomes envy. Then that envy becomes resentment. You see where I'm going with this? And then one day, one day, his mentor asked him, When did someone else's blessing become evidence that God forgot you? Let's ask that again. When did someone else's blessing become evidence that God forgot you? You see, that's a hard question. And that's a question that hit him hard. Because envy had convinced him there wasn't enough grace to go around. Envy had convinced him that God had forgotten about him. Envy had told him lies. But remember, Paul says love does not envy. Guys, envy is dangerous. You want to know why it's dangerous? Because it disguises itself as fairness. And we're programmed to believe everyone is equal. Now, I believe where we go one, we go all. But I also believe that each and every leaf of the branch, and each and every branch of the tree is unique in its own way. But you see, envy blinds us. And it can blind us to our own blessings. A lot of times we think, why them and not me? So you see, gratitude turns into complaint, celebration turns into competition. But guys, when we truly love people, we can rejoice when God blesses them as well. Because their victory is not our defeat. Because God's resources are not limited. He is the great author. The same God who opened doors for them can open the same doors for you. And then love can celebrate as a whole rather than compete against each other.

Humility Over Competition In Ministry

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I want you to think about something. Think about a pastor or a church leader who spends years, years, and years building a ministry. He works hard, sacrifices. Works hard, sacrifices a lot. Pour it into Pete. And then a younger leader arrives. That younger leader has fresh ideas. He has new fire. He has new energy. So people begin to talk about the younger leader more than him. Attendance grows bigger because of the younger leader's influence. So the older leader felt invincible. Invisible. I'm sorry, not invincible. Duh. I can't even read my own writing. But you guys know what I'm talking about. He felt invisible. You want to know why he felt invisible? Because he let his pride get past his gatekeeper, which is his mind. He let the enemy, who is the father of all lies, tell him lies. And say things like, Don't let him outshine you. But you see, the Spirit whispered back and says, Is this ministry yours or God's? So the older leader publicly supports the younger leader. He celebrates him, he encourages him, he opens doors for him, gives him opportunities. So that years later, that younger leader calls out and says publicly, I became who God called me to be because someone chose humility over competition. Man. Think about that. I'm going to say that again. The younger leader says, I became who God called me to be because someone chose humility over competition. You see, guys, true love does not boast. Love is not proud. You see, pride constantly asks, how do I look? Love asks, how do I serve? How can I serve? You see, pride wants credit. Love wants impact. You see, pride wants cheers and applause. Love wants transformation. The greatest example of Yeshua himself. The King of Kings washed feet, guys. The King of glory carried a cross. You see? He served. He was matchless. He was spotless. That is the true definition of love. The difficult truth, guys, is Paul isn't merely describing love, he's describing Jesus. Think about every phrase. Love is patience. Jesus is patient. Love is kind. Jesus was kind. Love does not envy, love does not boast, love is not proud. Every characteristic points back to Jesus. And when we read the verse that way, we realize something. We don't naturally love like this as humans. That's why we need the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God working within us. The goal isn't to try harder, the goal is to become closer to Jesus. Because the closer we are to Him, the more His character will show within us and through us.

Heart Check Questions For The Week

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So, guys, this week just ask yourself, who requires patience from me right now? Is it a spouse? Is it a child? Is it a coworker? Is it a parent? Is it a stranger? Then I want you to ask yourself where has this kindness been replaced with irritation? Guys, it's imperative that we ask ourselves daily, and we search our soul daily. Where has comparison replaced gratitude? Where has pride replaced humility in our lives? Gut check, soul check, search your heart. Let the Holy Spirit decipher. Use discernment. Those questions all need answering, and the answers are going to reveal the very area where God wants you to grow.

Deep Roots That Outlast Storms

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Imagine a gardener who plants two trees. One grows up really quick, tall and impressive, while the other grows slowly. Year after year, the smaller one seemed significant, insignificant. Ignificant. There I go, making up words again. But see, the people admired the first tree, the one that grew fast. A lot of people didn't notice the second tree. Then a storm comes. Rain, wind. You know that fast growing tree? Well, it fell. You want to know why? Because its roots never took hold and grew deep. You know that slow-growing tree? It stood firm. Because its roots had spent years developing beneath the surface where nobody could see. You see, love is often like that second tree. Love is patient, love is kind, love is humble. You see, it may not attract immediate attention, but when that storm comes and that tree remains standing, people start to take notice because genuine love grows roots way before it grows branches.

Prayer For Patience Kindness Humility

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Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, teach us to love the way you love. Lord, help us to become more patient in this world of impatience. Lord, help us to become more kind in a world that is just harsh. Lord, help us to become humble in a world that programs us to self-promote. Lord, help us to give gratitude because nothing happens without you and your promises and your word. Lord, please remove any envy, pride from our heart and spirit. Lord, let the love of Yeshua be seen in our actions, our words, our attitudes, just in our whole life today. Lord, we pray that people just encounter us and your grace through us by the way we treat them. It's in Jesus' holy heavenly name we pray these things. Thank you guys. I love you. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen and hallelujah.

Final Blessing And Share Request

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Well, guys, sorry about that. Um the door is open. I can't do anything when the Frenchies are acting crazy. But anyway, I love you guys. It's always a roller coaster at the Robinson House. God loves you guys, and if you don't have a relationship with Christ, you got to get it right. And if you like the podcast, please share it with somebody.