PART 1 “PATIENCE”: The ability to endure injuries inflicted by others and the willingness to accept irritating or painful situations (Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 1:15-16). Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; “Lowliness” means humility which is not found in the Latin or Greek vocabularies of Paul’s day. The Greek word apparently was coined by Christians, perhaps even by Paul himself, to describe a quality for which no other word was available. This “humility” is a compound word that literally means to think or judge with lowliness, and hence to have lowliness of mind. Humility, the most foundational Christian virtue (Jas. 4:6), is the quality of character commanded in the first beatitude (Matt. 5:3), and describes the noble grace of Christ. (Phil. 2:7-8). We cannot even begin to please God without humility, just as our Lord Himself could not have pleased His Father had He not willingly “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond servant and humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”. This is a short description of the way a true Christian conducts his life. This is still describing the worthy walk in verse one. A Christian should pattern his life after his leader, Christ. In fact, a Christian is a follower of and a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Meekness”: (another word is gentleness), an inevitable product of humility, refers to that which is mild spirited and self controlled (Matt. 5:5; 11:29; Gal. 5:23; Col. 3:12). “Longsuffering” is another word for patience. The Greek word for patience literally means long tempered and refers to a resolved patience that is an outgrowth of humility and gentleness. “Forbearing one another in love”: Humility, gentleness and patience are reflected in a forbearing love for others that is continuous and unconditional (1 Peter 4:8). All of the above mentioned character traits go with a humble servant of the Lord. We know that the love spoken of here, and the charity in the following Scriptures in 1 Corinthians both stem from the word agape, which is the unselfish type of love that God has. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. This is not only the unselfish love that Christ has, but His true followers have, as well.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 17:16:11 +0000