Dealing with another’s history
By Jon Walker
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2, NIV)
When we see in another the hurt beneath the anger, or the reason behind the behavior, we’re more likely to make allowance for each other’s faults (see Ephesians 4:2, NLT).
Developing this patience is part of the lesson plan at the school of Christ, which is why God created each of us with different shapes, interests, and personalities. We each have different backgrounds, and we’re each at a different place in our journey with Jesus.
Practicing at patience teaches us to keep looking on the things above, allowing us to see how God works in the most difficult of circumstances, or when facing the most difficult of people. In patience we learn diversity is a strength and not a weakness.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with – even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.” (Romans 14:1, MSG)
What does this mean?
- Practice at being patient – Most people can muster patience when it’s convenient; the real test comes when the day is slipping away or when you’re faced with someone making the same mistake for the third time in a week.
- Patience often comes at significant cost – It requires you set aside your agenda and yield your rights in order to welcome other with open arms.
- Ask yourself these questions:
- How can I better understand the people who bring out my impatience?
- What does my impatience say about my priorities?
- In what ways do people have to be patient with me?
- Do I give the same amount of grace to others as I expect them to give me?
If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.
