May 10th, 2024
by Robert Presson
by Robert Presson
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” — Colossians 3:13-14, NLT
I heard someone say in regards to this passage that we are to forbear strangeness, and we forgive sin. In other words, we make allowance for other people's quirks and short- comings and things that get on our nerves (forbearance), but we forgive them when they sin against us (forgiveness). This is a recipe for loving long-term.
Anyone can love someone they just met. Anyone can love someone during a “photo op” on a mission trip. But how about people you are in a long-term relationship with—your family, friends, neighbors, co- workers, and so on? That's really the test of love because love gets tested over time. The intensity of your ability to forbear and forgive gets put through the wringer when your life bumps up against theirs consistently over time. This is really where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and this is what Colossians 3:13-14 is getting at.
The passage calls us to bear with one another and forgive one another, just as the Lord has forgiven us. This is called “forbearance.” Some of the most literal translations (KJV, ASV, YLT) actually use the word “forbearing” where the NLT says “Make allowance for each other’s faults.” When we choose to forbear, to make allowances for others, we can actually strengthen our love for them. We can appreciate their uniqueness and learn to celebrate their differences rather than letting them become points of contention. So that’s forbearance. Forgiveness is the other key ingredient in the recipe for loving long-term.
When others sin against us, it can be tempting to hold onto grudges and resentment. But the Lord calls us to forgive, just as we have been forgiven. Forgiveness does not excuse the sin or condone it, but it releases us from the bondage of bitterness and enables us to move forward in love. Ask yourself, what can I forbear, and what should I forgive?
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This blog is taken from Robert Presson's book, "30 Days of Faith, Hope and Love." To order this book, go to cityrevival.tv/fhl
I heard someone say in regards to this passage that we are to forbear strangeness, and we forgive sin. In other words, we make allowance for other people's quirks and short- comings and things that get on our nerves (forbearance), but we forgive them when they sin against us (forgiveness). This is a recipe for loving long-term.
Anyone can love someone they just met. Anyone can love someone during a “photo op” on a mission trip. But how about people you are in a long-term relationship with—your family, friends, neighbors, co- workers, and so on? That's really the test of love because love gets tested over time. The intensity of your ability to forbear and forgive gets put through the wringer when your life bumps up against theirs consistently over time. This is really where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and this is what Colossians 3:13-14 is getting at.
The passage calls us to bear with one another and forgive one another, just as the Lord has forgiven us. This is called “forbearance.” Some of the most literal translations (KJV, ASV, YLT) actually use the word “forbearing” where the NLT says “Make allowance for each other’s faults.” When we choose to forbear, to make allowances for others, we can actually strengthen our love for them. We can appreciate their uniqueness and learn to celebrate their differences rather than letting them become points of contention. So that’s forbearance. Forgiveness is the other key ingredient in the recipe for loving long-term.
When others sin against us, it can be tempting to hold onto grudges and resentment. But the Lord calls us to forgive, just as we have been forgiven. Forgiveness does not excuse the sin or condone it, but it releases us from the bondage of bitterness and enables us to move forward in love. Ask yourself, what can I forbear, and what should I forgive?
---
This blog is taken from Robert Presson's book, "30 Days of Faith, Hope and Love." To order this book, go to cityrevival.tv/fhl
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