The Walk of Love through the Way of Love
This walk of love and loving one another life is made practical in Scripture through what we call the “one another” passages.
I would like to take the next few weeks and compare the famous LOVE passage in 1 Corinthians 13 with the ONE ANOTHERS we find throughout Scripture. As I studied these I discovered that 1 Corinthians gives us the definition, the way of love and it corresponds with the action, the walk of love, as we respond to others and walk in love imitating Jesus.
Take a moment to read through 1 Corinthians 13:1-7.
LOVE is patient and kind so WALK bearing with one another.
Love is patient and kind; 1 Corinthians 13:4a
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3
Patient is the word makrothumia, meaning self-restraint before proceeding to action. Quality of one able to avenge himself/herself yet refrains from doing so; it involves exercising understanding and patience towards others.
Kind is the word chresteuomai, meaning to show oneself useful, to show one’s self mind, to use kindness, willing to help.
Bear with is the word anecho, meaning to hold up or keep back from falling, to bear patiently and is spoken of having patience with the errors of weaknesses of others. It implies the idea of giving another person/believer room to grow in their faith and their walk.
When I am impatient my words and actions tend to be rushed and rude. When I walk with an attitude of bearing with my words and actions tend to be patient and kind. Patience enables us to give people room to outgrow and overcome their immaturity.
This idea of bearing with does not suggest that we are to become doormats or allow an abuse using patience and kindness as a tool to enable. There are situations and times when we need to confront and speak truth in love. But I find that most of my daily interactions and moments of impatience and unkindness simply require I bear with another.
I have found that bearing with one another requires that I simply PAUSE and BREATHE! Pausing to remind myself that I too am the recipient of patience and kindness. First and foremost, the patience and kindness of the Lord who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 103:8). But I also have benefited and grown through the patience and kindness of other believers who have extended grace and love to me, pointing me to Christ and a giving me an example to follow as I mature in my walk. Breathing to exhale that impatient spirit and refocus my attitude and actions so that I might imitate Christ and walk in love.
Who do you need to bear with today?
Ask the Lord to give you the strength to walk patient and kind toward others bearing with their faults, weaknesses or immaturity as you point them to Christ Jesus.
Women’s Bible Study Teacher
This post first appeared on the blog, susancady.com, ©2013