KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 13:7 (Love) beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, and endureth all things.

In our previous study, we considered the fact that love bears all things. Love does not tolerate, but love expresses longsuffering. How is this done? Love always forgives. Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”.

We can bear with the shortcomings of others as we do not take their offenses to heart. Love gives away the hurt. It is the nature of love to give out.  Giving out hurts is not a strange and difficult thing for love.

Unforgiveness is a product of selfishness. Unforgiveness does not hurt the offender, but the offended. Many times, the offended in his mind holds the notion that to keep the hurt and not to release the offender, gives him or her a sense of retaliation. This is a big deception.

An offense is a form of injury. The more you keep the offense, the more you will become bitter.

Secondly, when it is said, that love bears all things, it does not mean that an action that demands correction is allowed to go. Love bears with all things yet when an action demands correction, reprove or rebuke, love would do so. It is very wrong to withhold the truth about a thing to a brother or sister. Eph. 4:15. “But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head, even Christ”.

Love also believes all things. This does not mean love believes the lies of Satan about God and His word. Love accepts whatever the second party says. He does not argue with him or her over what he or she says. If married couples would accept this principle, a lot of suspicions and contention in most marriages would cease. There are a lot of marriages that are on the brink of divorce because one party does not accept the explanation given by the other. He claims that what the wife is saying is a lie. The wife, on the other hand, maybe claiming the husband is telling lies. Well, this should not happen in a Christian home. Our yes should be yes, and our no is no. If a husband or wife gives clear grounds not to be trusted, then the ethics of a Christian home is seriously been trifled upon. Such a person needs help.

  CONFESSIONS

My heart is always ready to assist the weak. I do not keep offenses. I release them, and I forgive always all those who offend me. I live a life of peace.

THOUGHT: YOU RATHER PUNISH YOURSELF WHEN YOU REFUSE TO FORGIVE

FURTHER STUDIES:

Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”

Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice”: