Able to Bear

Able to Bear

When there is talk about bearing, people naturally think about bearing up under evil, and it takes something to do that. It takes faith and love to bear evil, but it also takes faith to bear the good. We see this in action when Jesus spoke to the Jews who believed in Him.

Jesus performed marvelous signs and wonders and spoke about His relationship to His Father, and many believed in Him. That was what Jesus desired, and therefore He wanted to lead them further into faith by telling them what they had to do further. However, the Jews perceived it as an attack on them and began to justify themselves. As He continued to speak to them, they continued to justify themselves. Then Jesus said to them, “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you cannot bear to listen to My word.” John 8:30-43.

God’s word is a “not guilty” sentence for the human spirit. Rom. 5:16. God jealously desires the human spirit, for He can make a new creation out of it. Jas. 4:5.

On the other hand, man’s flesh is condemned to death in Christ because it is not obedient to God’s laws, nor can it be. The desire of the flesh is enmity against God, and those who are in the flesh cannot please Him. Rom. 8:7-8.

First, there are those who call themselves believers but they cannot bear to hear the Word proclaimed as we have it in the Scriptures. They twist the Word’s meaning so they can bear to hear it.

Then there are those who hear the Word and can bear it, but they do not make use of it for salvation, which was God’s intention.

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” 1 Cor. 3:1-3.

This is only a transitory state if things are going well, until they, by God’s grace, come to where they can receive solid food, etc.

Lastly, there are those who have chosen to follow Christ; by faith, they have chosen to believe the promises of God’s Word that speaks about becoming like Him, and who therefore are willing to be led by the Spirit.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Col. 3:12-14.

In this love, we can joyfully bear and forgive one and all. Love bears all things!

“We have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” 1 John 3:14.

We can say: “Bear with your enemies, bear with those who curse you and hate you and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44. That we, by God’s grace have been saved from folly does not qualify us to judge those who have not tasted God’s salvation and goodness; on the contrary: love, bless, and do good to all—with joy and from the heart!

“That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt. 5:45.