Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

I posted my blog first things this morning. Then I posted notice and a link to it for my friends on Facebook. As I did I could see what my friends had to say and I had a negative thought about what they were doing. I shrugged it off thinking “It takes all types in the body of Christ to reach as many of the lost as possible.” Then I went to the Biblegateway to start my daily studies. This was the verse of the day.

Forbearance, ouch, there was my daily reminder smacking me in my thoughts if not my actions. I had not written anything negative, but I thought it. Please do not let me off the hook by telling me I did nothing wrong or that I am being too hard on myself. The Lord says “You can do better Larry!”

Paying attention to those little daily reminders is what brought me out of that nightmare of a life I was living into the blessed assurance I live in now. I am not perfect, but I have come a long way. I give praise and glory to God that He has encouraged me daily. We are a busy people with so many things to do and so many responsibilities. If we do not heed the daily reminders, we make slower progress in Kingdom growth.

I have been hard headed in the past but that is changing slowly. It isn’t something to be taken lightly because the mind is an independent agent. My heart is right towards God. My mind is coming along slowly. Agreeing with God is paramount in our daily salvation and that is a mental process. We have to choose to agree with God as a love response.

So is forbearance.

Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Does this passage mean that if you desire to be first you should serve all and in that way you will become first? That is how it is interpreted by most people. But is that really what it says?

I see the problem as being desire. Scripturally God used men that did not want to serve. Anything from “I can’t.” to “I won’t.” was said by men like Moses, Gideon, and Jonah. They were used mightily by God to prove God’s will for mankind.

I will share my human instinct in what I see in this verse. The flesh is after all flesh. Suppose I were to cut in line for a popular movie that was about to sell out. An officer called to keep order would pull me out and say, “Back of the line!” My desire would to be first, not to be left out, I would have no consideration for anyone else other than myself. As I went to the back of the line I would both resent the officer and everyone in line before me.

Philippians 2:6-8 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

One of the most difficult things for us to do in Kingdom service is in knowing we are sons of God and not letting that go to our heads. Our human side will allow ourselves to see service as being the thing to do and push aside everyone else in order to serve. In reality service is not the thing that comes first, obedience comes first. Obedience to the Lord keeps order and alignment with the will of God.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.