#1439. Bear with one another in love (27/1/26)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God.

From Ephesians 4:2, we learn that Christian love is not primarily about emotion, but is expressed through humility, gentleness, and patience in our relationships with one another.

To watch this devotional, please select the link below: 

What is love?

‘Love’ is one of the most frequently used - and most misunderstood -  words in our culture. Often today, love is reduced to what I feel strongly about or desire intensely. When people say, “I love that person,” they often mean a powerful mix of emotion, attraction, and personal fulfilment - a relationship pursued so long as it continues to meet those desires.

But when love is defined primarily by feeling, it becomes fragile. When the feelings fade or the cost increases, love is easily redefined or abandoned. In this way, modern ideas of love often place the self at the centre: I love as long as it affirms me, costs me little, and allows me to remain true to myself. Anything that demands self-sacrifice is quietly set aside.

For Christians, love is explained and defined by Christ and the gospel. In our text today, we have three ideas about true Christ-like love:

i. Love is humble

True Christian love is humble. Humility is to think rightly of ourselves and to think rightly of ourselves is to know that we deserve God’s wrath for sin but He has saved us by grace. This keeps us humble!

And let’s never forget that pride, a very common trait, is one of the most hateful attitudes to God, as Peter warns us:‘

When grace shapes our hearts, humility shapes our relationships.

ii. Love is gentle

Gentleness - or meekness - is strength under control. Like an adult playing football with children, gentleness restrains power for the good of others. Love knows how to challenge, correct, and speak truth wisely and tenderly.

There is a clear link between humility and gentleness. Pride often reveals itself in harshness toward others’ failures. The proud are severe because they feel superior. But those shaped by grace are gentle, because they are deeply aware of God’s patience and kindness toward them.

When we remember how gently God has dealt with us, we learn to deal gently with others.

iii. Love is patient

Love is also patient -  literally, ‘long-suffering.’ It is faithfulness over time, especially when relationships are difficult. True love is not proven when things are easy, but when the cost is real.

Patience keeps us committed to imperfect people in imperfect churches - which describes every church! 

Constantly abandoning relationships or communities when tensions arise is not maturity but spiritual immaturity. As Christ is patient with us, so we are called to be patient and faithful with one another.

Response

All of this can be summed up in the phrase ‘bearing with one another in love.’ The gospel makes us humble, gentle and patient  - we treat others as God has treated us. 

To ‘bear with’ (anéchomai) means to endure, to put up with, to remain committed in love.

So let us reflect:

• Are we bearing with others in love or are we or are we absent from fellowship?

• Or are we drifting toward gossip, resentment, withdrawal, or isolation?

• Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us into people who love as Christ loves?

Let us ask God afresh to clothe us with His love - a love that endures, serves, and reflects Jesus to one another.

Community Group Notes

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

Something that builds relationships and confidence to share; it’s good to regularly use this moment to ask the group: How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

On Sunday, we continued our new series entitled: Ephesians: to the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. The title of Sunday’s message was: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. 

Please read Ephesians 4:1-6 and discuss:

• Personal Reflection – From Sunday’s message and this passage, what stood out to you? Was there anything the Spirit particularly impressed on your heart?

• Live worthy of our calling (v.1) -  Paul, from prison, urges them to ‘live a life worthy of the calling you have received.’ What does this mean, and what does this text teach about the kind of ‘worthy’ lifestyle that we are called to? 

• Keep the unity of the Spirit (v.3) -   What is meant by the ‘unity of the Spirit’?

• One Body, one Spirit, one Hope… (v.4–6) - How are we to understand each of these ‘one…’ statements, and how do they lead to loving unity? 

SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)

• How might today’s text encourage us or direct us in our desire to bring our community to Jesus? 

• Sharing Stories – Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing stories of how we’ve seen God at work through simple faithfulness.

• Practical Next Steps – Who might God be placing on your heart at this time? Are there any “people of peace” (see note) in your life—those who seem open, welcoming, or receptive to spiritual conversation?

Let’s Pray Together

Let’s pray for one another in light of what we’ve studied and bring any other needs before God.

• Pray for courage, wisdom, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in our Serve, Invest, and Invite opportunities.

• Pray specifically for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives - that God would open hearts and deepen relationships.

• Ask God to work through us by His power, so that others may come to know Christ.