Characteristics of Love: Love Endures
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:8 (NLT) Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear.
1 Corinthians 13:8 (MSG) Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit.
Introduction: Calvary salutations to all the redeemed of the Lord. Glory be to God who has kept us thus far. I learnt during one of our family devotion that “No automatic success” in marriage, there must be battle against the wicked ones for blissful advancement in marriage.
Matthew 11:12 (NLT) And from the time John the Baptist began preaching and baptizing until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people attack it.
▶️ We have examined through the Scriptures 38 out of 40 characteristics of God’s kind of Love, walking in these characteristics is to allow divine nature of God to rule over human nature we inherited from Adam. Therefore, Kingdom or rulership of God in Christian marriages requires force because the violent ones are attacking Christian marriages.
🙏 I pray for revelational knowledge of His words as we continue to study at His feet in Jesus name.
📎 The 39th characteristic of God’s kind of Love this week is: Love endures.
👉 To endure means refusing to give up a painful or difficult situation because of Joyful expectations. For example, a woman endures Labour pains for Joyful expectations of child to be born.
🛑 We usually think that there will be Joyful moments all through in Christian marriages, but it is not so because there will be painful moments to endure for ultimate joy like a woman in travail. There will always be periods of Endurance.
Hear the Master addressing His Disciples
John 16:20-23 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Following the Master’s instructions generally and especially in marriage, which is contrary to worldly expectations and traditions will come with pains ab initio, but surely ends in joy which no man can take away and periods of pain will be forgotten.
For example, the view of the author of marriage institution on divorce is at variance with human ideology.
Hear the Scriptures speak from Matthew 19:3-8 (NLT)
Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?”[ Jesus replied. ] “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ And he said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?”] [ they asked.][Jesus replied, ] “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.
Unfortunately, those that went through the route of divorce as solution to marital dispute will not come out to tell others the accompanying sorrowful end but pretend and present good posture as it is done on social media. Those that followed the Master’s instructions, though looked foolish to the world will surely end up in marital bliss at the later end that will be obvious to many.
❓Do you know that longsuffering is among the fruit of the Spirit embedded in Love?
It is either we bear the fruit of the Spirit or manifest the works of the flesh during marital disputes. This determines who we obey.
Romans 6:16 (NLT) Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.
Resolving marital issues by the flesh cannot end well because God’s kind of Love will be excluded. But resolution by the Spirit of God is a proof of being children of God and ends disputes Joyfully.
Romans 8:12-14 (NLT) So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
There will always be issues to resolve even in Christian marriage, this is the period that requires Endurance from both partners as a proof of possessing God’s kind of Love. Worldly or valentine’s love cannot endure in times of marital crisis. This is where difference in character between God’s kind of Love and worldly or valentine’s love manifest.
❓What practical steps are we to take as we walk in love this week?
▶️ Spend time in personal prayer, then write a letter of commitment and resolve to your spouse. Include why you are committing to this marriage until death, and that you have purposed to love them no matter what. Leave it in a place that your mate will find it.
✍Finally brethren, by Endurance, partners do not hold on to past wrong doings of each other for the bond of friendship to exist and continue in old age. God’s kind of Love endures to the end.
Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Proverbs 17:9 (GNS) If you want people to like you, forgive them when they wrong you. Remembering wrongs can break up a friendship.
Proverbs 17:9 (MSG) Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!
✋Maranatha.
