Longsuffering means one who has the power to revenge but refrains from doing so (Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 4;4-6; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 1:11; and 3:12-14).
LOVE IS KIND
This means to act benevolently, to treat one as one’s own kind (a member of one’s own family).
Proverbs 31:26 says of the virtuous woman: “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”
Ephesians 4:23 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
LOVE DOES NOT ENVY
Love is not jealous of others. The word envy means “a passion or zeal to move against someone because of envy.” Envy is divisive. It blocks fellowship and hinders the flow of the spirit of love. Envy causes one to argue and resist others even when they are more righteous.
When judging Jesus at the time of His crucifixion Pilate asked the people if they would prefer Barabbas, a notable prisoner who was a murderer (Mark 15:7-15). Matthew 27:18 tells us that Pilate “knew that for envy they had delivered him.”
The priests were envious of Jesus because the multitudes followed Him. Or was it because of the mighty miracles He performed? They were not performing miracles.
Jesus told the disciples to tell John the Baptist: “Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me” (Matthew 11:4-6).
Why did Jesus tell John tell John the Baptist not to be offended at Him? Great miracles were happening with Jesus. Multitudes were following Him and yet John the Baptist’s ministry was fading. Even John the Baptist said himself: “He must increase but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
We read in John 1:35-42 of two of John’s disciples who left John and followed Jesus. Sometimes this kind of thing can cause an offense and offense can lead to envy. I am not saying that John the Baptist was offended. However, Jesus certainly cautioned him about it.
We will not envy if we are filled with love.
To be continued.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell