Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love."
Text: Ephesians 4:2
A REALISTIC OUTLOOK
The apostle Paul was most realistic in his outlook of life. He knew that even in the best of times and circumstances, people would have some degree of difficulty relating to each other. Though all may profess faith in a common Saviour, nevertheless there would be enough differences in personality, in attitudes, or even in the level of spiritual maturity.
CULTIVATION OF GODLY VIRTUES WOULD TAKE TIME
It was vital that believers cultivate vital Christian virtues such as, “lowliness, gentleness and longsuffering”. However, these qualities are not easy to cultivate at all. It might literally take years to cultivate these virtues!
LEARNING HOW TO FORBEAR
Paul added an important quality that all believers must practise while they are cultivating godly virtues. “Bearing with one another in love” was one practice the Church must carefully maintain.
“Bearing with one another” (anechomenoi allelon”)
There are two ideas in this phrase that must be highlighted:-
1. Holding up oneself (“anechomai”)
One must first learn how to carry oneself well. A believer must learn how to walk with dignity and honour. He has a great calling from God. He must be ever conscious of this high and holy calling.
2. Holding up another person
It is only when the individual believer learns how to hold himself up well, that he will be able to hold up his brethren. His task is a little easier because he has first learned how to hold himself up. He merely extends what he does with himself to his brethren.
When all believers sincerely and diligently put into practice these two ideas, he would then be carrying out Paul’s advice on “bearing with one another”.
“In love” (“agape”)
One of the loftiest words in the Christian theological vocabulary must be the word “love” (“agape”). This word is used to describe the love that God has for the world. That love is so great that He willingly sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to redeem the world. The highest price was paid for that redemption.
This was the kind of love that every believer must seek to display towards one and all. Forbearance in love towards all believers must be that special hallmark of all who proclaim they understand God’s redemption and high calling.