EPHESIANS: Bearing with One Another

EPHESIANS Number 40

Now we come to long suffering and forbearing. This is something of a poignant topic for me.

There are those I count among my friends who interpret certain parts of the scripture differently from me. Generally, I can stand apart from that emotionally. God is vast and there is certainly no one who can claim to have a perfect understanding of everything in scripture. To be sure, we each sincerely believe our view is correct. Nevertheless, over the years I have found the need to change my view on many things. Holy Spirit is not shy about providing new revelation in the Scriptures and in my spirit.

Recently however, someone I count as a valued friend has been teaching from one of the more difficult and controversial books of the Bible. Included in the teaching were harsh statements impugning the motives of another teacher; one who disagrees with the interpretation in question. I consider this other teacher a good friend also, and over the many years I have heard, read, and known them, I have found them to be of excellent character and I have great respect for their teaching.

I am a naturally gentle person. I do not like conflict, and I strive to be at peace with everyone whenever possible. This situation grieved my heart deeply. It became the subject of my midnight musing. I was not alone in my concern. Other leading voices in the community reached out to me, and some also spoke to the teacher making the accusations.

Despite my distaste for such things, I reached out to my friend. It was my hope that perhaps the maligning comments might be discontinued. I hoped that my friend would return to simply teaching the truth as it was best understood and allowing Holy Spirit to be responsible for convincing of the hearers as needed.

This situation has tested the limits of my long-suffering and forbearance. In the process it brings to light the abundance of these virtues found in our heavenly Father and expressed through the Lord Jesus.

The Old Testament is filled with examples of Father’s patience and endurance in putting up with the Hebrew people as time after time they failed to trust Him and went their own way instead.

In the New Testament, Jesus demonstrates the same virtues in allowing Himself to be maligned even to death and then asking the Father to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing.

God’s long-suffering patience in putting up with me, is a more contemporary example. Perhaps you can think of an example from your own experience as well. All of this is the natural fruit of the Spirit, which is grounded and sourced in Father’s irrepressible self-giving (agape’) Love.

These godly virtues of life are examples of a godly lifestyle. A way of living that is worthy of our calling. Just as the conduct of those who run dairy farms, naturally fits dairy farmers, so godly attitudes and actions fit us as God’s holy children.

Ephesians four, verse three presents our goal as “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” This, for me, is a central issue. It lies at the core of my discomfort over my friend’s harsh and personal comments about another of my friends. I have no doubt that both are born of the Spirit, yet there is a disunity that has had a very unsettling effect.

We can all benefit from this, however, because it can serve as a warning for us to be vigilant. I am reminded of Galatians 6:1 which urges, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”