Bear Up- Man Up! Colossians 3:12-13NKJ
In Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs. Later in the week, his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill and said, “Johnny what is the matter? Little Johnny responded. ‘I have a pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife.”
Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13). Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Paul gives the church some good advice, it seems that the members of the church in Ephesus and Colossae were faced with misunderstandings that threatened to tear apart their fellowship. He told both congregations to be completely humble, gentle, patient, and forgiving, and to bear with one another in love.
Believers must be willing to forgive others.
Testimony: During our first pastorate, Jenny and I would have a lot of young people show up that once belonged to our singles ministry at the Cartersville Church of God. Usually, they seemed to bring a disciple or two, that they had lead to the Lord.
Once, one came a brought a young man, and after the service we went with them and got something to eat. This new convert bluntly blurted out, “I can’t stand watching you! Something about you just turns me off.”
I went the extra mile to be friendly, but to no avail.
Again, Colossians 3:12-14TM So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Galatians 6:2NRSV Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
We understand that Jesus Christ bore our burdens, and we are commanded to do the same.
Are you a friend to others? A true friend knows everything about you and still loves you. A friend steps in when the whole world steps out. A friend is one who never gets in the way, except when you are on the way down.
What does a friend do? A friend refreshes his or her wounded.
Philemon 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
The heart is always the seat of the human emotions!
There’s several friendship-love-blockers that every person will contend with.
Pride. When misunderstandings happen, learn to take the high road- you don’t always have to be right.
Pride tries to block the path of perfect unity.
Ephesians 4:2-3NLT Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Misunderstandings- “he said, she said.”
Unchecked misunderstandings can cause church splits, disruption of fellowship, it destroys families, and left unresolved misunderstandings always cause a snowball effect.
Real friends communicate, and always believe the best.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8NLT Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. Gentleness is love’s self-forgetfulness. Self-control is love holding the reins.
Forgive.
Mark 11:24NLT But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.
Think about this. “Just after Jesus speaks of mountain moving faith, He says, “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone . . .” (Mk 11: 23-25). Consider the nature of a heart that never holds unforgiveness toward anyone. This is a heart controlled by love. You see, Jesus connects the power of great faith with the motive of great love.”
C.S. Lewis: “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.”
Forgiveness is a work of the heart- first, foremost, and forever.
Beginning in the heart, forgiveness reflects a decision made on the inside to refuse to live in the past. You can’t move forward if you’re still holding on to the past. It would be like looking at something on one side of the room and, without turning your head, trying to see something on the other side of the room.
One man said, “Without forgiveness, there is no future.” Booker T. Washington once said, “I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.”
Forgiveness is like salvation- it is a gift that is freely given; it cannot be earned. We can forgive without saying, “I forgive you,” because forgiveness is a matter of the heart.
“Let’s decide right now, to bear up and man up!” P.H.
Benediction.
