Ephesians 4:1-3 CEB

Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, 

I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God.

Conduct yourselves with all humility, 

gentleness, 

and patience. 

Accept each other with love, 

and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. 

Ephesians 4:1-3 CEB

We're up to "accept each other with love" 

Some versions of the English Bible use "bear with one another" or something similar.

The word here is "anecho" which means 

To endure, to bear with, to tolerate, to hold up.

It seems to include some concious thought and action towards and for someone else who has a need, and who may, at least in this moment, may not be pleasant (sounds a bit like me someday!).

If we read this together with the previous verse about being completely humble, gentle & patient, this verse is the living out of those ideas in relationship with others, in community.

This is loving my neighbour.

To endure, 

to bear with, 

to tolerate, 

to hold up.

To love like this requires of me those 3 attributes:

humility

gentleness 

patience

And before I can express those attributes towards others, maybe I need to express them inwards, towards me too, to love my neighbour as I love myself, with humility, gentleness & patience towards my own limitations and challenges.

What about you?

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