Lowliness, Meekness, Longsuffering and Forbearing Ephesians 4:2

Paul the apostle exhorted the Ephesian church members to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith” they “were called”, and in chapter four and verse two of his letter to them, Paul wrote the manner in which the Ephesians were to “walk worthy” - with “lowliness, meekness, longsuffering and forbearing” where we read:

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

The verse begins, “With all lowliness and meekness,...” Paul began with the words, “With all lowliness” which means “each, every, any, the whole and everyone to have a humble opinion of themselves, with modesty and humility of mind ” “and meekness” or “gentleness, mildness and humility”. Paul knew if the Ephesians were going to “walk worthy of” their “vocation”, they would need to do so with an attitude of “humility”.

The verse continues, “...with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” Paul added, “with longsuffering” which means “patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance and slowness in avenging wrongs” “forbearing” or “holding one's self erect and firm, sustaining, bearing and enduring” “one another in love” which means “reciprocally and mutually in affection, goodwill, benevolence and unconditional brotherly love”. In addition to a “lowly” or “humble” attitude, the Ephesians were to be “patient” and “mutual in affection” toward one another with “unconditional love”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we discover the standard by which we are to live our Christian lives. We are not to be “proud”, but humble. We are not to be “harsh”, but mild. We are not to be “restive, agitated and over-eager” with “one another”, but are to be “patient”, and finally we are to be “firm and steadfast” in our “unconditional love” toward each other. What a challenge, and all because Jesus has been this way with us. May we follow Jesus' lead and employ the attitudes that are worthy of our “vocational” “walk”.

Next time Paul shares about “the unity of the Spirit”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.