(patience + gentleness + humility + love) = peace
August 29, 2020
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Ephesians 4: 1-6 (NIV)
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
The current theme which is coming to an end today is “Reconciled by Grace”. It has been a bit of an introspection where various aspects of family life have been considered. Family in the very broadest sense: households, local church, the global family and the whole Body of Christ.
Paul tells us to be completely humble and gentle, be patient bearing with one another in love. Wisdom from a letter written long ago which is just as fresh and relevant now. It is almost mathematical in its elegant simplicity.
(patience + gentleness + humility + love) = peace
Imagine the experience of all these “families” if we just followed this ancient wisdom. How many petty internal squabbles could we stop before they started, how much hurt could we avoid, what ills of the word could we not at least start to help. Life would be so much better if we could all just fully embrace and demonstrate these virtues every minute of every day but things are never quite so simplistic.
We can’t. Well if we are honest most of us can’t. Well I certainly can’t, particularly the bit about patience.
We are only human and while we may try, we don’t always quite succeed. We don’t look outward to others but more often inward to our own needs and wants, usually without even consciously thinking about it. Like Robert Burns’ Holy Willie, our measure of success in our behaviour is that we do a little better than the others around us.
Thankfully we have a much better blueprint and example to follow. Thankfully we have the Spirit still among us to do what we cannot.
Whatever family(s) you belong to, may you find peace.
PRAYER:
Lord we have the blessing of family
Blood, local, global, Christian
Help us to appreciate and uplift them
Lord we have inherited words of wisdom
We have guidance, standards to aspire to
Help us to reach them
Lord we have the Spirit to prompt us
We have your small still voice
Help us to listen to them
Amen.
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