Spiritual Simplicity by Chip Ingram

Author:Chip Ingram
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books

The word for “persevere” or “endure” is enlightening. Hypomeno comes from hypo—to be under—and meno—pressure, stress, misfortune, pain, difficulty. It has the sense of bravely and calmly bearing problems and ill treatment, of persevering under misfortune and trial. It also means “to remain.” In other words, love stays. It sticks around, even when it has to put up with a lot.

That doesn’t mean staying because of an inability to leave or to set appropriate boundaries. Codependent love says, “I have to stay in this abusive or dysfunctional relationship because I’m an incomplete person without it.” Real love balances truth and grace, setting boundaries and dealing with things that shouldn’t be tolerated. But it refuses to give up on somebody.

The opposite of this side of love is indifference. Many people think the opposite of love is hate, but at least there’s still some passion in hate. The opposite of love that perseveres is simply deciding not to care anymore, to walk away saying, “Just forget it.” Real love doesn’t do that. It says, “I’m not giving up on you, no matter what.” It remains engaged even when things are difficult. In spite of failures, even those that give you every right to leave, you choose to stick around because that is what God has done with each of us.

That’s what Jesus did on the cross. He wasn’t crucified by Romans or Jews, and it wasn’t the nails that held him in place. Enduring love held him there because we had failed badly and would continue to do so. He took our sin on himself and gave himself as an offering for it. He experienced the wrath of God for our sins so we wouldn’t have to. When our love perseveres—endures all things—we are demonstrating the kind of love Jesus showed us.

That’s really the heart of the gospel. We don’t become Christians or remain Christians by getting rid of our failure. We receive Jesus’ perfection by faith. God loves us relentlessly, choosing to overcome our failures by giving us the life of Jesus. Instead of condemning us for our sin, he gives us a substitute. When we put our faith in Jesus, trusting what he has done for us, we are born into a new life. God’s Spirit comes into us. We live not by trying to be good, read our Bibles, pray, give our money to the church, and do all the things we think are spiritual. We live by remaining in relationship with God and depending on his strength and love to live through us.

Our life in Christ is primarily relational, not productive. It is love-oriented, not performance-oriented.

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