Chapter 3.
Love suffers Long.
1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
The word '' Charity '' is the same word '' Love ''. It suffers Long. Now, This has nothing to do with Sickness or poverty. He is not saying the Love(d) being suffers sickness and poverty, depression for Love sake. Hence that would go against the value of Love because the same says '' Love does not think Evil. '' or Pleasure in evil. Verse 5. Don't be sick because of Love. Don't be cool with Lack for Love sake.
John said 3 John 1:2 KJV
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
The suffering has to do with the Nature of God. This suffering has to do with Mercy. It is the character of Love as the Fruit/result of the spirit. Galatians 5:22 KJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, :Love is Long-suffering. This is our God.
Numbers 14:18 KJV
The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty , visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation .
God visiting the iniquity of the Fathers ..... here refers to his capacity to Forgive the iniquities. Look at that verse carefully you'll see that. The LORD IS LONG-SUFFERING, AND Great of MERCY. FORGIVING...... So in the Long-suffering Produce of Love , we see Mercy, Forgiveness. I.e God will not in any way deal with men according to their Iniquities.
Where Longsuffering is at work, Mercy is seen. Love doesn't deal with others According to their performances , Rather According the Mercy of God.
Psalm 86:15 KJV
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
LONGSUFFERING, AND PLENTEOUS IN MERCY.
1 Timothy 1:16 KJV
Howbeit for this cause I obtained MERCY, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth ALL LONGSUFFERING, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
How do you define LONGSUFFERING?
Paul said,
2 Peter 3:9 KJV
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
LONGSUFFERING to US-WARD, Not willing that ANY should perish but ALL SHOULD BE SAVED.
2 Peter 3:15 KJV
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
LONGSUFFERING of our Lord is SALVATION. God's work/dealings for man according to his own will/timing and purpose.
What's our own LONG SUFFERINGS? Our dealings and work for/with others According to his own ( God's) will and Purpose. I.e according to the grace of God.
Colossians 3:12-13 KJV
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
[13] Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Ephesians 4:2-3 KJV
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
[3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
With LONGSUFFERING I.e, You forbear others and Forgive others in LOVE, AS CHRIST forbears and has forgiven us.
Love suffers long. It forbears others. It forgives. It won't get to red pointer. It always forbears, it suffers long. You see as Believers, You don't get to a place or point you withhold Forgiveness to those who offend you. You always FORGIVE.
Love doesn't get tired of overlooking humans fault. Everyone too should see this Love Nature in themselves as they also walk in the same reality which Christ has brought to us.
You keep forbearing and forgiving that Frustrating sister and brother, Because you have Love. That will lead them to repentance, to change. Turning everything over does not help. It cause damage. Forbearance and Forgiveness does. It leads to Life, Peace.
Matthew 5:44-45 KJV
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
To be cont.
Study 1 Corinthians 13
(This Series on LOVE is in Chapters, this article is meant to give us an Understanding of what is ours in Christ, what am I to do as I follow this series? Pray Ephesians 3:16-19 for few mins or hours, Say to yourself I have all capacity to take all of God's truth and word into my mind, Then re-read again, Share with your friends