Be patient with each other

Ephesians 4: 2 Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Be patient with each other.

This request of Paul, if answered, could make all of the difference in every relationship: in our churches, in our families, with our friends, in every aspect of our lives.

We truly want everyone to be patient with us. When we make a mistake we hope for the benefit of the doubt. When we are just plain wrong, we hope for forgiveness and restoration.

But, at the least slight, the least wrong done to us, we wish for nothing less than eternal fire for those who hurt us.

Let's apply Paul's words of wisdom to our charge as Christians:

Matthew 22:37-40King James Version (KJV)       

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

How can we truly love our neighbor as ourselves unless we are willing to make allowance for their faults, just as we make allowance for our own? Don't we justify every little quirk we have? If so, why not justify the “personalities” of those to whom we owe the Love of God?

Matthew 28:16-20King James Version (KJV)

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

What stops us from telling the Good News to everyone, and anyone?

Is it our fear of rejection? Do we suppose that they will not be open to His Word? Do we prejudge their response with no willingness to “make allowance” as we would hope they would “make allowance” for us. Did someone take a risk and bring the Good News to you? Can you continue to do less for others?

Ephesians 4 New Living Translation (NLT) Unity in the Body

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.                                                                                                              2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.                                                                                                                       3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.                                                                                                                                              5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.                                                                                       7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

Let us pray for the gift of patience with each other. Let us do our best to accept each other's faults in the sweet love of Jesus the Christ.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!