Filling the gap
June 30th 2009
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)
What does it mean that love bears, believes, hopes and endures all things?
This is most likely referring to our relationships with each other and how we should be. It means we should not give up on those we love; we should trust them; we should hope for the best and perservere through all things for the one we love.
Let’s perform a little role-play to better illustrate this point: Let’s imagine a situation where someone you love appears to have let you down. For example, you have asked them to come and pick you up from work in the evening. 30 minutes after they were due they still haven’t arrived.
What do you think? There is a gap here which your brain must fill.
You have two options: You can either think the best (there is heavy traffic and they can’t get to you or something really important has come up which they have no choice but to deal with) or you can think the worst (they have forgotten you or are putting less important things ahead of coming to get you).
Which one of these two extremes you choose to believe will heavily affect your relationship. One of them fills you with negativity and disrespect. The other fills you with peace and love.
Which of these two will you choose to fill the next gap you face? Will you choose to think the worst or will you choose to bear with them even though they are late, believe that there is a very good reason they are not there, hope that they will come and get you when they can and endure while you wait?
I know what I am going to try and do!
This was based on a the last talk from Nothpoint Ministries‘ Staying In Love sermon series.