{"id":54751,"date":"2023-09-25T05:35:47","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T09:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nehemiahecommunity.com\/members\/?p=54751"},"modified":"2023-09-25T05:36:08","modified_gmt":"2023-09-25T09:36:08","slug":"long-suffering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nehemiahecommunity.com\/members\/devotionals\/long-suffering\/","title":{"rendered":"Long-Suffering","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever been in a situation of long-suffering because of love?
Were you able to remain loving throughout, or did you handle it differently?\u00a0
If your personal trials are connected to the people you love the most, are you able to walk in love?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.\u00a0 <\/em>\u2013 Ephesians 4<\/a>:1-2 (NKJV)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Long-Suffering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat does long-suffering mean?\u201d <\/em>is a question that is often asked.\u00a0 The answer is simple \u2013 to be patient in the midst of long-term suffering. <\/strong>In 1 Corinthians 13<\/strong>, the Apostle Paul describes 15 characteristics of love. He chose long-suffering, or patience, as the first characteristic. That is an interesting way to begin a discourse on love.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people think that love is supposed to be fun, painless, exciting, beneficial, and comforting, but not according to the Apostle Paul. Firstly, he discussed \u201cagape\u201d love, which is selfless love that is demonstrated through actions and a willingness to lay down self in the pursuit of loving God and others. This is the love that Jesus willingly embraced, even though He knew it would take Him to the cross on behalf of sinful humanity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul led his discussion on selfless, \u201cagape\u201d love with the fact that love is long-suffering. If love is long-suffering, then what is the suffering that love must endure? Long-suffering is when we continue to demonstrate affection and concern for others in the midst of trials.<\/strong> It is to remain long-suffering toward those who have hurt us, acknowledging that God is still doing work in them. It is to choose to love, as we patiently wait for the objects of our love to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and through the Christlike love we are expressing toward them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long-suffering is to love as Jesus loves. <\/strong>\u00a0He loved us even while enduring the suffering of the cross.\u00a0 He died for the sins of the world, by the hands of the sinners He chose to love. His life was taken by the ones He came to save and who had persecuted Him while He was alive. He knew that the salvation of those He loved could not occur unless He was willing to patiently endure suffering by their hands. <\/strong>Can you love your spouse and other family members in this way? Can you love your employees and customers with this kind and depth of love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a friend whose spouse has not returned the love extended to them. However, they continue to endure and show them love with patient long-suffering, believing with full faith and confidence that God is using that love to do mighty work in them. As a <\/strong>business coach<\/strong><\/a>, I have the privilege of watching many <\/strong>Biblical Entrepreneurs<\/strong><\/a> long suffer with their staff and customers, and many Christian employees long suffer with their employers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you long suffer with those you love?<\/p>\n\n\n\n