“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2
These are qualities of Christ Himself, which He works in believers for the sake of the Church’s unity.
These attitudes do not come naturally. They must be cultivated by the determination to place others above ourselves. Only the Spirit can empower us to treat people this way consistently. The term “bearing” is close to our expression “putting up with”; however, Paul’s use of the term has positive connotations. It describes being patient with the shortcomings of others. Often, we ask God to be patient with our own failings, and yet do not exercise the same type of patience ourselves.
Here Paul highlights the gifts of Christ that make us His Body; as one Body, we are protected from the dangers of our times. Modern individualism and consumerism make it easy to treat the Church as “all about me.” Thanks be to God, the Church is all about Jesus, who provides for our salvation and edification.
God’s blessings on your day…