Forbearing Love (Eph. 4:2)

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 and 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