Bear with Each Other





Early in biblical history, God told His people: "Do not seek revenge or BEAR a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:18)

Bear (definition 1): carry or support

Grudge (definition): a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury.

Bearing a grudge does you way more harm than it does the person with whom you have feelings of resentment. Left to fester and boil, you can become eaten up on the inside with resentment, bitterness, bad feelings, ill will and hatred.

The Bible says, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Forgiveness is not easy, especially when you've been really hurt or violated. I believe only God has the capacity to forget, but He gives each of us the capacity to forgive. Prayer is a good turning point for those feelings. It may help to remember how much God as forgiven you...then do likewise.

Bear (definition 2): accept or endure.

Forgive (definition): cancel a debt

"BEAR with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13)

Remember those words repeated by Jesus to "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:34) It's the only way to bear with and forgive one another. It'll do your heart good!

Black Bear
Cades Cove, GSMNP

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