Monday, September 17, 2007

Bearing WithOne Another in Love

Ephesians 4:2-6
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (NIV)

Boy sometimes this seems such a hard thing to do, doesn't it - to bear with someone else? That's a nice way (when you are having a hard time with this concept) of saying to put up with them. BUT I find it interesting that the responsibility is fully placed on us to bear with that other person. It doesn't give us the allowances we wish for. "But you just don't know how much I have had to put up with in dealing with this person!" Boy I have at least thought this countless times, and many times I go ahead and say it. But God calls me to be Patient, humble and gentle. God doesn't even let me off the hook at that, He calls me to make EVERY EFFORT to keep unity through the bond of peace. That is so hard for me sometimes because I am so sinful. But I know that God's way is best and if I obey Him He can bless me, so I will try to do as He has called me to. What is neat is that I am a bear to deal with too so maybe you can bear with me in love too!




2 comments:

Unknown said...

This is so true. I sometimes refer to people that are hard to "bear" as sandpaper. They rub me the wrong way and are really rough. But maybe they are refining some things in me that need to be softened, and I need to be more tolerant. Not always an easy lesson to live out.

Debbie C. said...

This is particularly difficult to do with personalities that may be very different from our own. It's God's way of stretching us and conforming us into His image. We will never "arrive" until we reach heaven but it is a constant process and many times painful. Thanks for the encouragement to keep on pressing to the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus!