Love Bears All Things
In 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Paul describes what Christ’s long-suffering has produced in him. What have you learned this week about how Jesus bears long with you?
Andres T. – This week, the Lord has taught me more about His loving character. His abounding love continues to longsuffer with His children to reveal the patience He has for us. Through His long suffering, we are equipped with love and it is a love that is capable of bearing all things. We can then express this love to others and longsuffer with others for the purpose of revealing Christ's own love.
Charlene D. – God’s love endures long with me. When I am distracted and distant or prideful and angry, He’s patient and His love is kind and rejoices in truth. I learned that God disciplines me out of love. I know there will be times when I don’t appreciate it His methods, but it’s my responsibility to let God love me, however that may look.
Jared R. – I’ve come to know and realize how much the Lord has really suffered long for me and with me. Through all that I have ever done to mess up or go against Him in my sinful past, God has been there every step of the way because He loves me that much! The Father bears with me in everything because He wants to help me grow into the man He has me becoming! He’s such a good Father that He graciously suffers long with me even when I don’t obey Him, thereby doing things my way. He loves me so much that He’s willing to suffer long for me in order to shape me more into His image, and to show His goodness and faithfulness!
Leigh Anne Z. – This week I learned how patient, gentle, and merciful God's love is for me. He longsuffers with me through the process of working through my fear of man, perfectionism, bitterness, selfishness and so much more. When I am in the midst of experiencing these things, I realized that He is not in heaven scolding me when I mess up or don't meet the expectations I set on myself. Rather waiting to receive me as I am, broken and empty, having nothing more to offer Him, than my tears and weaknesses. I have a long way to go in the process of overcoming these various areas in my life, but it is comforting to know that Jesus is willing to longsuffer with me.
Marissa H. – I have realized how patient Jesus is with me when I mess up a lot and I laps in integrity every day and yet He still loves me. He is always right there with me when I mess up, when I am a jerk, and He bears with me while I get through my bitterness. I love learning about how He will meet me where I'm at every time I seek Him. Jesus bears patiently in love while I try to get my mess straightened out.
Neil C. – Jesus not only bears long, but He also bore all my sins on the cross. I am nowhere near perfect, but it is a good thing that Jesus did not use the “perfect.” Jesus used people who were normal and even those who are weak. Jesus bears with my mistakes and He corrects me in His love. I do not deserve it, but it comforts me that my God uses my mistakes to draw me closer to Him.
Sophia P. – Jesus bears long for me. He knows my human nature, knows my constant lack of trust, my unbelief and my flesh. He has every reason to leave me where I am, He has the right. It would even make sense, yet He looks at me and sees a sinner whom He can save, who He can grow and guide. He suffers long in loving me, because I don’t always love Him back. His love for me is constant, I am in awe of how faithful He is.
Zachary G. – This week I became very aware of how Christ’s bearing long with me enables me to bear long with difficulty in my life. It taught me that bearing long looks like embracing the things that are there because they are a part of God’s discipleship for me so to dwell on things I wish I had instead or complain about these things is not bearing long. Additionally this week, Christ’s bearing long with me taught me how He patiently reveals the next step as He calls me higher. I have moved from trying to will myself to be content to looking to Him for total satisfaction.