Bearing With One Another

Bearing With One Another

The world is full of difficulties; even every person’s life is full of difficulties! Yet there is only one single difficulty that is actually very great, and that is to bear with one another in the deepest sense of the Word, always and without exception in the deepest recesses of the heart. This is evident from the previous verse. There we see the fullness of heavenly glories that we need, to be able to bear with one another! No man can manage to do this without this fullness! The difficulty is just too great.

However, with this fullness and also with the fullness that is mentioned in verse 14, it is entirely possible!!! Glory to God! Yes, all things are possible to him who believes.

I cannot imagine a more characteristic and perfect standard for man’s deep corruption than just this: that it is so incredibly difficult to bear with one’s fellow men!!!

When the heart is hard, it is hypocrisy to say with one’s mouth, “I forgive you.” A hard, cold heart is the most powerful evidence to the contrary. According to the biblical standard, we can only bear with one another when we possess a fullness of tender mercies and goodness, among other things, in our inner man.

On average, it is almost unbelievable how little people can bear with one another in the long run; as far as most people are concerned, it is practically zero! They get irritated over the smallest trifle! Alas! Alas! What wretchedness!

But listen to this description in verse 14: “The bond of perfection.”

This expression speaks its own, plain language! What is it that is possible? It is possible to be perfectly knit together and to bear with one another sincerely from the heart without a grating sound proceeding from your mouth, even without a grating sound in your inner man.

This is something to love, something to pursue, something to obtain! It is something to believe in with all of your heart! “We . . . believe, and therefore speak.” 2 Cor. 4:13.

This is quite a message! It is something to proclaim!