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MEDITATIONS
ON THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE
By Glenn H. Jackson
______...."This book of the law [the Word of God] shall not depart from [always be in] your mouth, but you shall meditate
on it day and night, so that you may be careful [take heed] to do according to all that is written in it; for THEN you will make your way prosperous, and THEN you will have success".... Joshua
1:8 NASB
THE FRUIT OF THE RECREATED SPIRIT
[part 8 of 8]
Long-Suffering
*____This fruit of the spirit in the heart of a believer is really love's nursery. The Believer is now suffering with the selfish ones, perhaps loved ones. You see, we are living in a world dominated by selfishness. We are the Jesus folk, and we are
to love those selfish ones as He loved them. We are taking His place, acting in His stead. He came to destroy the works of the Adversary. The long-suffering believers are partners of the Master in this great work. You will never be free from selfish men and
women; they are the burdens that you have to bear.
They are always crying for their share. They want, they demand, and they will fight to
gratify their senses. The long-suffering ones must bear with them. We must suffer for a long time with the babes.
____This is love's ministry, suffering with the babes
in Christ. Paul tells about them in 1 Cor. 3:1-3, "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it; nay, not even now are ye able: for ye are vet
carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?" This is an unhappy picture; but it is true, and the deeply spiritual men and women must bear the burdens of these babes.
____Hebrews 5:12 gives you another picture. "For when by reason of time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles
of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food." Notice, "when by reason of time ye ought to be teachers." They should be grown up in the Word and helping others, but they are still babes.
You who are strong must bear the infirmities of the weak. You must take the Master's place. They will be selfish. They will criticize you. They may lie about you. They are often the scandalmongers of
the church. They see evil instead of good. Their ears are open to the senses.
____But you, you have grown to the full stature of a man or woman in Christ, and must
bear with them and be patient and kind.
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