| Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Study |
"For many people, love is not beautiful. Love can be messy, painful, hurtful, and complicated. When Paul wrote his letter to the church in Ephesus, he encouraged them to evaluate how they loved each other.
He tells them to be meek and lowly; in other words, to be humble, which is the opposite of selfishness. In our lives today, being self-centered can damage friendships, family, and marriages. Humility means that we push our own feelings and desires aside and care more about others than ourselves.
The next word Paul uses is longsuffering, which means patient. When we operate in patient love, we commit to staying with the people we love for the long haul. We don't walk away as soon as things get complicated or challenging. We demonstrate the kind of patience that others will have to show us someday." |
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The last words of encouragement in this Scripture passage are "forbearing one another in love." Sometimes we have to bear with one another, although that does not mean we should allow toxic relationships in our lives. It means we realize that no one is perfect, and we all need God's help. So, we allow each other to make mistakes and forgive each other when needed. We let love be the basis for everything we say and do.
Our love for God should be reflected in how we love each other. God is loving and patient with us. He never leaves us, even when we are difficult to love. We should treat each other with the same attitude -- and with God's help, we can.
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