This line comes from Ephesian 4:1-7, in which Paul is addressing the church in Ephesus. What does it mean to live a life worthy of the calling they have received? Contrary to what modern American mentality may tell us, a life worthy of the calling we have received is summed up as one humble, gentle, patient and bearing with one another in love.
The first three descriptors are pretty straight forward, but certainly not easy. But the fourth point is the tough one. We are to bear with one another in love. To "bear with" one another is not simply a matter of "putting up" with one another, as if we have to simply hunker down and put up with those persons we find difficult. To bear with one another, in this context, is about actually bearing the burdens of those we love. This means that we take their troubles upon ourselves and carry the load for them. Big difference.
When you step back and look at all four, the first three preface and prepare one for the fourth. In order to bear someone else's burdens, we must be humble, gentle and patient. Think about the mentality that one must have in order to bear someone else's burdens.
Of interesting note, the list given in Galatians 5:22 describes the fruit of the Spirit as fruit, that is, the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. And this includes patience. So when we are living a life, led and filled by the Spirit, the fruit will be patience, and then when we are patient we will be prepared to bear with one another.
A life worthy of the calling we have received is one that is about growth. We come into the church, we embrace the Christian life, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit and then we are prepared to love those around us.
The first three descriptors are pretty straight forward, but certainly not easy. But the fourth point is the tough one. We are to bear with one another in love. To "bear with" one another is not simply a matter of "putting up" with one another, as if we have to simply hunker down and put up with those persons we find difficult. To bear with one another, in this context, is about actually bearing the burdens of those we love. This means that we take their troubles upon ourselves and carry the load for them. Big difference.
When you step back and look at all four, the first three preface and prepare one for the fourth. In order to bear someone else's burdens, we must be humble, gentle and patient. Think about the mentality that one must have in order to bear someone else's burdens.
Of interesting note, the list given in Galatians 5:22 describes the fruit of the Spirit as fruit, that is, the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. And this includes patience. So when we are living a life, led and filled by the Spirit, the fruit will be patience, and then when we are patient we will be prepared to bear with one another.
A life worthy of the calling we have received is one that is about growth. We come into the church, we embrace the Christian life, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit and then we are prepared to love those around us.
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