Orange Moon Sunday, May 11, 2026 “Forbearing and Forgiving”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

“Forbearing and Forgiving”

    We enter into human relationships and associations in the hopes we will not too often disappoint the other party, nor will they often disappoint us.  

      At times, however, we let each other down in even our most blessed and cherished bonds with fellow human beings.  This includes fellowship with devout believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Consider Paul and Barnabas, godly men who separated from one another due to a major disagreement (Acts 15:37-39).  Both perceived error on the part of the other, and both felt let down by a close brother.  Division occurred, based on disappointment as Paul questioned Barnabas’ mercy, and Barnabas doubted Paul’s judgment.

    Little wonder Paul called us to assertively seek the maintaining of loving association with fellow believers:

   “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

   Such fellowship requires the overcoming of disappointment with one another.  Forgiveness must follow failure.  This often greatly challenges our emotions and sensibilities, particularly because of our fleshly tendency to maximize the failings of others, while minimizing our own.  Even believers most determined to walk in faithfulness to family, friend, neighbor, and colleague can easily overlook failure to do so.  I once spoke to a young man who told me with an air of self satisfaction, “If I tell somebody I am going to do something, I always try to do it!”  Bravo.  We all want to do that.  I asked the man, however, if he had always followed his axiom.  Or, if he considered how often he had failed to do so without realizing his actions or neglect that resulted in another’s disappointment.  We must keep these questions close in heart and mind if we are avoid disappointing others, and show mercy to those who disappoint us.  

    “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13).

   Let us seek to delight one another, and to be delighted by one another.  Disappointment will happen, however, and Scripture frequently addresses the protocol of patience that must guide our hearts and responses.  We experience and manifest the love of the Lord Jesus thereby, fulfilling His words spoken long ago that bear powerful impact on how we impact our world for His glory…

“By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(John 13:35)

Weekly Memory Verse

    By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(John 13:35)

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