Bear With One Another's Faults

Pet Peeves

[image] screenshot of FB post.

More or less three categories:

rudeness

Hygiene, personal habits

Driving

[image] T-shirt screenshot.

Dealing with one another as we try to get along.

Not always easy.

We struggle with the egocentric predicament. We only know what we’re thinking and dealing with, our own thoughts and feelings.

We naturally incline to think of ourselves first, our own needs first and above others.

Result is frustration and irritation, impatience.

Doing so helps us to “live worthy of our calling.”

What is your ultimate calling? To demonstrate Christ to the world.

Ephesians 4:1 NLT

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

XTION: We have a responsibility to one another and to the world to live like we are worth it. (Jesus’ sacrifice).

Ephesians 4:1 NLT

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

How? Two thoughts:

Bear with one another

Make the effort to stay connected.

Making Allowance

Ephesians 4:1 NLT

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

Ephesians 4:2 NLT

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Making allowance = bearing with, tolerating, cutting some slack, being patient, endure

because we love one another.

John 13:35 NLT

35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Billy Joel - “I love you just the way you are”

Mutual tolerance so we can live in peace with one another.

through our

humility - Not too big for our britches

Not a common virtue among the Greeks and Romans.

Philippians 2:3 NLT

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

gentleness - don’t be hard on people

Being mild natured,

Strength under control. We discipline ourselves. (We bridle our tongues)

Galatians 6:1 NLT

1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

Paul connects these ideas in the letter to Titus.

Titus 3:2 NLT

2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.

patience - (a long fuse)

Colossians 3:12 NLT

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

XTION: Closely connected to our willingness to cut some slack is the motivation to actually act on it.

Making an Effort

Ephesians 4:3 NLT

3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

“Do your best”, Act quickly, urgently, powerfully, when it comes to being united.

“Do your best”, Act quickly, urgently, powerfully, when it comes to being united.

We value our unity so much that we’ll do whatever it takes to keep it and guard it.

Ephesians 2:14 NLT

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

United in the Spirit

This is the unity we have from God. We ACT like one because we ARE one. Joined together in on Body

Bound together in peace

Literally, bound up like chains.

our strong desire to be at peace limits our actions and reactions at times.

Colossians 3:14 NLT

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Recall that the goal of our calling is to reflect Jesus to one another and to the world.

Developing forbearance, tolerance, grace for one another is a process of maturation.

We grow in bearing with one another by doing it and realizing what we’re doing.

Takes a couple of mental exercises:

Recognize the types of situations that make you crazy and prepare your mind to deal with it.

1 Peter 1:13 NLT

13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

Decide to be more empathic with people:

Romans 12:15 NLT

15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

Atticus Fitch in To Kill a Mockingbird said,

You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.