Bearing with One Another 彼此宽容

3 views

Skip to first unread message

Dexu Xia

unread,

Apr 8, 2025, 3:10:28 AM4/8/25

to dmcf_dailybread

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

Today's Insights When calling for gentleness and patience as believers in Jesus relate with each other, Paul recognized how difficult this can be. “Bearing with one another” (Ephesians 4:2) could also be translated “putting up with one another.” The same word is used in Mark 9:19, where Jesus says, “You unbelieving generation . . . . How long shall I put up with you?” Paul doesn’t naively imagine that maintaining unity in relationships with fellow believers will be easy, and he doesn’t call for believers to always have positive feelings for each other. Instead, following Christ’s example of humble, patient service, believers make the choice to “make every effort” (Ephesians 4:3) to press on in the difficult work of cultivating unity. Even within significant differences and relational friction, it’s possible to demonstrate Christlike love for each other.

Today's Devotional I stopped behind a car at a red light the other day and noticed a bright sticker on the rear window boldly stating: “New Driver. Please Be Patient.” Given all the“ road rage” we hear about (or experience), what a great reminder to be patient with other drivers. As I looked at the sticker, I wondered what would happen if people carried around signs that alerted us that they’re a “New Parent” or “New Christian.” If we knew what our neighbors, coworkers, or others we encounter throughout our day were going through, would we be more patient and even help them deal with their struggles?

We may be rushing through our days, trying to avoid being interrupted by others, but let’s consider how Jesus treated people. He wasn’t in a hurry. He had compassion on people and took the time to comfort and teach and show love to those He encountered. As believers in Jesus, we’re called to “live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received” (Ephesians 4:1). The apostle Paul says that includes being “completely humble and gentle; [being] patient, bearing with one another in love” (v. 2); and making every effort to live in peace and unity with each other (v. 3).

We may not know what challenges people are facing, but we can be patient with them. Let’s be an expression of Jesus’ love to everyone we encounter on our daily path.

Reflect & Pray How can you be more patient with others? Who can you be a blessing to today?

Dear God, please help me to be more loving and patient with those You place in my path. Patience can be a hard discipline. Thankfully, Jesus provides the ultimate model in patience.

By Nancy Gavilane

凡事谦虚、温柔、忍耐，用爱心互相宽容。以弗所书 4:2

今日经文以弗所书 4章1-6节

今日心得当保罗呼吁耶稣的信徒彼此相处时要温柔和忍耐时，他意识到这有多么困难。“互相宽容”也可以翻译为“彼此容忍”。马可福音 9:19 也使用了同一个词，耶稣在那里说：“你们这不信的世代…我要容忍你们到几时呢？”保罗并没有天真地想象，与信徒保持合一会很容易，他也没有要求信徒总是对彼此有积极的感觉。相反，他要求信徒效仿基督服事时谦卑、耐心的榜样，要求信徒选择“尽一切努力”（4:3）继续培养合一的艰难工作。即使在存在重大差异和关系摩擦的情况下，我们也能表现出基督那样的爱。

今日灵修前几天，我在红灯前停在一辆车后面，注意到那辆车的后窗上贴着一张醒目的贴纸，上面写着：“新司机。请耐心。”想一想我们听到过的（或经历过的）所有的“路怒”，这真是一个提醒，让我们对其他司机保持耐心。当我看着贴纸时，我想知道，如果人们随身携带标志，提醒我们他们是“新父母”或“新基督徒”，会怎么样呢。如果我们知道我们的邻居、同事或我们在日常生活中遇到的其他人正在经历什么，我们会更有耐心，甚至帮助他们处理困难吗？我们可能匆匆忙忙地度过每一天，试图避免被别人打扰，但让我们想想耶稣是如何对待人的。他并不着急。他同情人们，花时间安慰、教导，向他遇到的人表达爱。作为耶稣的信徒，我们被呼召“行事为人与所蒙的恩召相称”（以弗所书 4:1）。使徒保罗说，这包括“凡事谦卑、温柔、忍耐，用爱心互相宽容”（2节）；并尽一切努力和睦合一地生活（3节）。我们可能不知道人们面临什么挑战，但我们可以对他们有耐心。让我们成为耶稣对我们在日常生活中遇到的每个人的爱的表达。

反思和祈祷你如何能对别人更有耐心？你今天能成为谁的祝福？

亲爱的上帝，请帮助我对你安排在我路上的人更有爱心和耐心。耐心可能是一项艰难的训练。值得庆幸的是，耶稣为我们提供了耐心的终极典范。