We need to understand that Love, as a fruit of the Spirit, has its own fruits.
Some of the fruits of Love are named or implied in the 13th Chapter of 1 Corinthians, the so-called "Love" chapter.
And one of these fruits of Love is "...does not take into account a wrong suffered." In other words, Forgiveness.
We must not fool ourselves by saying, "I am loving," when we aren't also forgiving. If we hold something against someone, we are merely manifesting the deeds of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). Unforgiveness and lack of Love go hand in hand.
How quickly should we forgive? The simple answer is, "Immediately as the offense occurs." But, of course, it's not that simple, is it? Why not?
Well, because forgiveness, like Love, is a fruit of the Spirit, and if we're not walking by the Spirit, to that degree we won't be loving, and we won't be forgiving.
So, as always, we need to be being filled with the Spirit, to commune closely with Jesus Christ, to live in surrender to Him and His will, to bask in His grace and love, reckoning ourselves dead to sin, and allowing Him to live His Life through us.
Then we will be loving, and forgiving. But we won't be one without the other, and we won't be either without Jesus.
Side Note: Acting loving or forgiving isn't enough, is it? That's not the fruit of the Spirit.
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5 comments:
Amen, Terry. Your posts always are a blessing. Why don't you write more often? ;)
Be blessed, brother.
steve :)
There is so much truth to that. I remember the time Steve Camp told me that he found that ones that always talked about unity were the ones most likely to want division.
I had to step back and see if he was right. He was half right. My flesh is capable of anything and everything...but praise God there is hope in the New Creation.
We all have the love within us as believers but we must daily put the flesh in subjection so that it doesn't hinder the love from coming out.
Good posts. I remember a pastor teaching that if we are not daily in the word and at his feet then we are hypocrites.
A true and good post. Always need the reminder....DAILY:-)
Steve,
Interestingly, I actually have resolved to write more often. Two posts in two days :) Thanks for the timely encouragement.
Brian,
Personally, I think that Pastor's words are a bit harsh, not to mention theologically incorrect. Even when we act hypocritical, we are not hypocrites.
"Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor 6:11
I hate to sound like a broken record, but we need to stop measuring our identity (label, title) by our performance, and accept God's identity for us (righteous, holy, dead to sin, etc.).
Thanks for your always heartfelt comments.
Correction, Steve, two posts in three days :)
Thanks brother!
This is a good verse- Philipians 1:9
May it abound in us.
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