Humble and Gentle

 

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Ephesians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is a powerful call to Christian unity and love. Paul urges believers to be humble, gentle, patient, and forgiving towards one another. These qualities are essential for maintaining a healthy and vibrant community of faith.

Humility means having a low opinion of oneself. It is the opposite of pride and arrogance. When we are humble, we are willing to admit our mistakes, to learn from others, and to serve others.

Gentleness means being kind and compassionate. It is the opposite of harshness and rudeness. When we are gentle with others, we treat them with respect and consideration, even when they are difficult.

Patience means being able to endure trials and challenges without becoming discouraged. It is the opposite of anger and impatience. When we are patient with others, we are willing to forgive them when they hurt us, and we are willing to work through our differences.

Forgiveness means releasing the anger and resentment we feel towards someone who has wronged us. It is the opposite of bitterness and revenge. When we forgive others, we free ourselves from the emotional burden of their sin, and we allow God to heal our hearts.

Paul tells us that we should make allowances for each other's faults because of our love. This means that we should be understanding and compassionate towards one another, even when we disagree or when they make mistakes. Love is the glue that holds us together as a community of faith.

When we live out the qualities of humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness, we create a culture of unity and love within the church. We become a community where people feel safe and loved, even when they are imperfect. And we become a more effective witness to the world of the love of Jesus Christ.

Here are some practical ways to live out Ephesians 4:2 in our daily lives:

• Be willing to apologize when you are wrong. We all make mistakes, but it can be difficult to admit it. But when we humble ourselves and apologize, it shows that we respect the other person and that we are committed to repairing the relationship.

• Be kind and compassionate to others, even when they are difficult. It can be tempting to be harsh or rude to people who make us angry or frustrate us. But when we choose to be kind and gentle, we reflect the love of Christ.

• Be patient with others, especially when they are slow to learn or change. We all grow at our own pace. When we are patient with others, we show them that we love and support them, even when they are struggling.

• Be willing to forgive others, even when they have hurt you deeply. Forgiveness is not easy, but it is essential for healing and reconciliation. When we forgive others, we release them from the debt they owe us, and we allow God to heal our hearts.

When we live out Ephesians 4:2, we make the world a better place. We create communities where people feel loved and accepted, and we become more effective witnesses to the love of Jesus Christ.

In summary:

• Be humble and have a low opinion of yourself.

• Be kind and compassionate to others.

• Be patient with others, especially when they are slow to learn or change.

• Be willing to forgive others, even when they have hurt you deeply.

In closing:

• Let love be the glue that holds you together as a community of faith.

                         ***