”Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2New International Version (NIV)
Ephesians 4:2 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
Be Humble, Gentle, and Patient
Ephesians 4:2 commands you and me to “Be Humble, Gentle, and Patient”. This is God’s command with regard to the new life in Christ. Jesus actually calls you to a life of humility similar to that of a child (Matthew 18:4). And in, Matthew 23:12, Jesus taught that “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”.
Remember, Jesus Christ was born in a humble manger and grew up in humble surroundings. He lived a humble life too. Likewise, as a follower of Christ, you are to live a life of humility.
Humility
But what is it like to be humble? To be humble is to be free from pride and arrogance.
Therefore, a humble person doesn’t need to pretend to be something they are not. And rather than being self-centered, you would be other-centered.
Consequently, the less we focus on ourselves, the more we can focus on the needs of others or what they might be going through.
Gentleness
As a believer, you are to live with gentleness. To be gentle is to manifest part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23).
But what is gentleness? Gentleness is the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. It is polite and restrained behavior toward others. It is also the setting aside of pride, argument, resentment, anger, and the willingness to forgive the faults and offenses of others.
Therefore, gentleness helps you to avoid unnecessary conflicts and enables you to demonstrate love as it is meant to be displayed (John 13:34-35). By being gentle, you are able to maintain the unity of the body of Christ.
Patience
Finally, you are also to exhibit patience. Patience is another part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is necessary to love others effectively. And in 1 Corinthians 13:4, the apostle Paul reminds believers that “love is patient”.
Patience is the ability to endure a tedious task, a trial, or an annoyance, without getting irritated. If a person is patient, he is able to remain calm in those above.
Therefore, patience will enable you to face afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation, temptations, or other evils and still remain calm. Your temper will not flare, you won’t murmur or complain, and you’ll not act fretful or anxious. Instead, you will persevere through every situation, learn and grow from the same, and bear the faults of others without malice, anger, resentment, or revenge.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord God, I thank You for the Spirit that helps me live in humility, gentleness, and patience. I humbly ask that You continue showing me the way of humility, gentleness, and patience. I worship You and exalt You in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
2 Kings 11-13 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
