Forbearance #1

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NASB)
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance [tolerance] for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (Amplified)
1 I therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God’s service,
2 Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.
3 Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.

Humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, love.

One of the things that Christians get taught, usually fairly early, is that love is not just an emotion. Our culture emphasizes, even glories in, the emotion of love. However, love is also action. That is, love is demonstrated by actions. The abusive husband always “loves” his wife. But his actions are the actions of hate. We can control our emotions only to a limited extant. But we have free will over our actions. I may not have the emotion of love towards someone, but I always to the works of love.

Additionally, I was taught, early on, that if I make it a habit of doing loving actions, then the emotion will follow the habit.

This is the point that James was making in James 2:14-18. [James 2:18. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”] By my works, I show my faith. And by my works, I show my love, my humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance.

I tend to view humility, gentleness, etc., as attitudes, not as actions. I tend to think that humility is something I feel, or that comes from my heart. It does need to be true in my heart, but humility is also actions, deeds. I make a conscious decision to approach a situation in humility. Knowing that I am a fallen human being, I need to ask for God’s grace to do it. I need to believe in faith that He will make it possible.

As I work into my life habits of humility, of forbearance, of gentleness, then the emotions and heart attitudes will follow them.