Love endures all things ..1 Corinthians 13: 7
In our conversations around the word endure, we have looked at and considered Jesus from Hebrews chapter twelve; this week we want to consider our verse from Corinthians.
I want to remind you, from Helps Word Studies, the Greek on endurance ~
“5281 hypomonē ““(from 5259/hypó, "under" and 3306/ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, i.e. endurance; steadfastness, especially of God enabling believers to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots for them.”“
For the believer, 5281 (hypomonē) is "Christ-empowered endurance" which enables them to get from "God's point A" to "God's point B."
Examples:
Hebrews 12:1,2,Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance (5281/hypomonē) the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (NASB).
James 1:3: "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (5281/hypomonē)" (NASB).
Life is about moving from God’s point A to God’s point B facing every circumstance through His grace providing every thing we need, and perhaps love, since it is who God is, is the foundation for all enduring. “
Love must be the soil we are rooted and grounded in; His love for us and our love for Him. This love is not a feeling, but a determination, a choice to engage with the Holy Spirit and allow the love He pours into our hearts to reign in and through every situation we find ourselves facing.
From Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
“In respect of agapao (love) as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant “love” and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential “love” in them towards the Giver, and a practical “love” towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.”
Endurance, by necessity, will always involve a struggle to resist sin. Life is a series of choices to be faced; my way versus His way, my will versus His will. We find our endurance is only as great as our obedience. Just as Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered, we too must be found in a place of willing obedience to a loving Father. This requires a humility and submission that knows and believes in His love for us.
Love endures because it is rooted in trust. We have an assured reliance on the character, the truth and the strength of God. Trust can only be learned through our experiences. Every experience we face can teach and reveal to us the nature of our Father. Seeing Him rightly, knowing Him righteously, enables us to endure.
It is a wise child who understands the Father does not remove pressure and hardships from his life but faithfully watches over him enduring the growth process….consider Jesus.
It is for discipline that you must endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline…..Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of Spirits and live…He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. Hebrews 12:7-10
We are able to endure all things, as long as we can keep our eyes on Jesus and are mindful of our Fathers love. Alongside the temptation, He also makes the way of escape. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to endure.
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance. I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, and abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Phil. 4:11-13
Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief but His having borne them for us does not mean our lives are left untouched by grief and sorrow. It means that Jesus has become our way of escaping the snare set before us. Our confidence must always be rooted in His love for us, then our submission will enable us to rightly endure.
These days require a purposeful diligence from each of us. A stedfast gaze. A focused heart and mind. An undivided devotion, because only in this position are we continually aware of His love to us, then through our love for Him are enabled to endure whatever we may find along our path of life.