1 Corinthians 13:7, Charity Bearth All Things (2)

1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things …

Remember in Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian arrived at a fire place in a house where he saw a man pouring water constantly on the fire but it does not extinguish? He was brought to the back of the fire place in another room. There he saw a man pouring oil to keep the flickering fire aflame. The interpreter explained to Christian that the man pouring oil is Jesus Christ. He is the one that pours the oil of grace to keep the heart of faith aflame always even though Satan, the man in front of the fire place keeps pouring water. Jesus is at the back of the fire place, He is apparently not visible to us in our affliction, but He is there sustaining us by His grace!

The Christian life is a supernatural life that transcends the carnality of this sinful life. It enables the Christian to bear with ingratitude, hardships and reproaches. The Apostle Peter who encouraged the scattered Jews in all the lands as a result of persecution to courage and endurance when he wrote in 1 Peter 2:19-25 “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

 The power of Christian love has to be cultivated. We may fail betimes to bear a good testimony but be not discouraged. Take courage to persevere in bearing forth the fruit of righteousness in our lives to the glory of the God who calls us and also enables us. Amen.