9/27/2015
Spiritual Gifts Applied (Love Part 6)
Love, the most excellent way…
Love is Tough
1 Corinthians 13:7 Love…Bears all things…believes all things… hopes all things…endures all things…
Agape Love Endures Shortcomings
Ephesians 4:1 …with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bear with one another in love…
…making allowances for each other because you love each other. (Phillips)
Agape Looks For The Good In Others
1st Corinthians 13:7 …love believes all things
Love…is ever ready to believe the best of every person… (Amplified)
Love (Agape) Sees Beyond Sin
..It believeth all things… It takes the kindest views of people’s actions and circumstances. It sees things in their brightest, not their darkest, colors; and, as far as it consistently can, puts the best construction on peoples conduct. Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. 1st Peter 4:8 8 above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love covers a multitude of sins.”
Love Looks To Long-term Results
Genesis 45:-5 I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt! Don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Love Waits Expectantly For Change
Love…hopeth all things…
although the person being loved is totally sinful today, yet this supreme grace (agape) looks with eager, hopeful expectation for its repentance tomorrow.
Luke 15:20 “…while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Love Stands Up Under Direct Assault
Love…endureth all things… The word “hupomenoo,” translated “endureth,” is a military term, and means to sustain an assault; it has reference to heavier afflictions than those sustained by the “beareth” of verse 7. It refers to gross ill-treatment, violence and persecution, and such grievances as provoke resistance, strife, etc. The enduring is not simply that dogged persistency which bears up despite adversity, it is an endurance which forgives offense. Luke 17:4 , Hebrews 10:32-35, Matthew 5:38-48