SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/3/2019 9:30 PM
My Worship Time Focus: Forbearing Love
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Eph. 4:2
Message of the
verses: “2
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one
another in love,”
We have been looking for some time
at the different characteristic elements of the worthy Christian walk. The forth one is “bearing to one another in
love” (NIV). Let us look at 1 Peter 4:8
for an example of how this kind of love is described: “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one
another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” What this does is that it throws a blanket
over the sins of others, not
to actually justify or excuse them but to keep the sins from becoming any more
known than necessary. Proverbs
10:12 tells us “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.” John MacArthur states “Forbearing love takes
abuse from others while continuing to love them.” I have to say that this can only be done
through the power of the Holy Spirit for I don’t believe that it can be done without
that power from Him.
We have mentioned from time to time
that in the Greek language there are different words that are translated into
love in the English language. The love
that shows us what God has done for us as seen in John 3:16, and also in this
verse is what is called “agape” love, because agape love gives continuously and
unconditionally. There is another word
for love “Eros” and this kind of love is essentially self-love, because it
cares for others only because of what it can get from them. There is another kind of love “Philia love”
and this is primarily reciprocal love, love that gives as long as it receives. However agape love is unqualified and
unselfish love, love that willingly gives whether it receives in return or not,
and MacArthur adds “It is unconquerable benevolence, invincible goodness—love
that goes out even to enemies and prays for its persecutors (Matt.
5:43-44). That is why the ‘forbearance’
of which Paul speaks here could only be expressed in agape love.”
Today’s
quotation: “Not until we have become
humble and teachable…distrusting or own thoughts, and willing to have our minds
turned upside down, can divine wisdom become our” (J. I. Packer.
3/3/2019 9:49
PM
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