This week’s devotions are based on Week 3 of Building Together: “Together is Tough!” (WATCH HERE)
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
It is easy to talk about loving one another when everyone gets along. Love sounds wonderful when relationships are going well. But what happens when someone hurts you? What happens when someone disappoints you, misunderstands you, ignores you, or simply gets under your skin?
That is when loving together becomes tough.
The church is made up of people who have been forgiven, but we are still sinners. That means we will sometimes hurt one another. We will say the wrong thing. We will make assumptions. We will hold grudges. We will become impatient. Sometimes we will be the difficult person in someone else’s life.
Paul knew this. That is why his words in Colossians 3 are so practical. He tells Christians to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Then he says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.”
“Bear with each other” is not something we usually put on a greeting card. But it is a wonderfully realistic description of Christian life together.
Sometimes loving someone means bearing with them.
Sometimes it means being patient with a weakness that isn’t going away quickly. Sometimes it means overlooking an irritation that doesn’t really matter. Sometimes it means having a difficult conversation. Sometimes it means forgiving an offense that genuinely hurt.
And sometimes it means remembering how much we have been forgiven.
Paul gives us the reason for our forgiveness: “Forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
The Christian does not forgive because the offense was insignificant. We forgive because Christ’s grace is greater than our sin.
Jesus did not wait for us to apologize before He loved us. He did not wait until we became worthy before He gave Himself for us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
That is the grace we have received.
And that is the grace we are called to extend.
Today, when someone tests your patience, remember the phrase that has been running through this week:
Together is tough. Christ’s love is enough.
When forgiveness is tough, Christ’s love is enough. When patience is tough, Christ’s love is enough. When serving is tough, Christ’s love is enough.
You don’t have to manufacture that love on your own. You have received it from Christ. Ask Him to help you give away what He has already given you.
Reflect: Is there someone you need to forgive, bear with, or approach with greater patience? How does remembering Christ’s forgiveness toward you help you extend forgiveness and grace to others?
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the forgiveness You have given me through Jesus. I confess that I am often quick to notice the faults of others and slow to recognize my own. When relationships become difficult, give me patience, humility, compassion, and courage. Help me forgive as You have forgiven me. Keep me from holding onto bitterness, and help me remember that Christ’s love is greater than every offense. Teach me to love others with the grace I have received from You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.