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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
August 18
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Today's Pathway:
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We are coming to the end of Paul's description of the "better way" of self-sacrificing love. In verse 7 he uses four phrases. All the verbs are continuous action. The expression "all things" is repeated four times. Paul is driving home the fact that charity is something that needs to be practiced at all times in our lives, and in every circumstance that we face in our lives. There are no exceptions. There is never a time or situation where the believer is allowed to abandon Biblical love and adopt a self--centered attitude. As Christians we often find reasons to excuse our sinful behavior. We decide that the conditions that we face somehow allow us to ignore God's Word on a particular subject, including this one. We say things like, "If you only knew what he did", or "You don't know how hard it is". We think to ourselves, "Well, God knows everything so He understands why I'm doing this." God may understand, but if my behavior or attitude violates His Word and His holiness then He does not approve.
Paul first says that charity "beareth" all things. William Vine writes,
"the word 'bear' "signifies that what is mentioned either supports what is placed upon it, or covers what is placed underneath it."
The noun form of the word refers to the roof of a building and as such the verb means to cover, to protect by covering, and to conceal. Peter speaks of this in I Peter 4:8 when he writes,
"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins".
The word is also translated "forebear" in I Thessalonians 3:1 and 5. Thus, the one who "beareth all things" is willing to be patient, and at the same time does not seek revenge nor broadcast the problems and issues to others. He does not ignore sin, but he is willing to put up with the sinning brother, work with him to correct his faults, and protect him from those who would gossip about him.
The next expression is "believeth all things". The word "believeth" is the standard word for "faith". There are two different ways to look at this phrase, and both of them have merit. The first seems to go along with "thinketh no evil" in verse 5. The loving Christian is willing to believe his brother in Christ until he is presented with evidence to the contrary. Richard Lenski commented,
"The flesh is ready to believe all things about a brother in an evil sense. Love does the opposite; it is confident to the last."
The second is that the loving brother is willing to have faith that the Lord can change the erring brother. Love doesn't give up on someone, but trusts that God can change him.
The third expression, "hopeth all things", continues in that same vein. Albert Barnes explained it this way:
"Hopes that all will turn out well. It means that however dark may be appearances; how much there may be to produce the fear that others are bad men, yet that there is a hope that matters may be explained and made clear; that the difficulties may be made to vanish; and that the conduct of others may be made to appear to be fair and pure. Love will hold on to this hope until all possibility of such a result has vanished, and it is compelled to believe that the conduct is not susceptible of a fair explanation.".
In addition, love hopes that, if the brother is found to be guilty, he will confess, repent, and change.
The final phrase is "endureth all things". The word translated "endure" means "to remain under", and shows a willingness to keep doing whatever needs to be done in order to help the fellow believer. Barnes defines it this way:
"Bears up under, sustains, and does not murmur. Bears up under all persecutions at the hand of man; all efforts to injure the person, property, or reputation; and bears all that may be laid upon us in the providence and by the direct agency of God."
One last time: How is your love for the brethren?
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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