Paul writes this letter to the believers in Ephesus from Rome...where Paul is in prison...
Historians conclude this letter was written sometime between 85 to 90 A.D. In chapter 4 in the letter to the Ephesians, Paul addresses their daily behavior...not just when they are at "church", but when they are living their everyday lives...being out in the world.
Verse 2 brings out 4 different qualities listed by Paul:
1. Be Humble Paul brings across the point that all people are of equal importance to God. No one is more important...than anyone else, inside and outside the church. Being in a humble way of thought allows us to understand others better, make less judgments on one another, and see things in life from various views...that might in return..benefit us.
To the Greek mind during Paul's life, this was quite a challenge. Greeks did not consider being humble as a "good thing", instead, it was frowned upon as a weakness. Greeks often took great pride in being taught under certain teachers such as Aristotle and Plato, but without the luxury of being schooled by great teachers such as these, or in higher social circles that developed the minds of leaders, a person of a more humble background wasn't regarded or given much status.
You hear expressions like: "What does this person know?...they barely have a high school education.", or "What would this person know about this? Have they got any experience on what they are talking about?"...even today.
The Jewish culture had a different concept, mainly due to the Sacred Writings of the Scriptures. Being humble is emphasized throughout its writings with the promise God exalts those who gives honor to others...their abilities, their talents, and their potential in life...for these are all gifts from God.
The other thought about being humble: it is not wrong to be confident in one's thoughts and abilities in life, or the desire to express these gifts that come from God...yet, it is important to note God desires us to spend less time...thinking of only...ourselves.
2. Be Gentle Paul writes being gentle is about living our lives with self control. It is compared to a horse, which is a powerful creature in and of itself, yet when trained and under bridle, produces results that would not be seen if left to go its own way. Being gentle is allowing others to experience life...and helping them receive the "training" you have, and using gentleness toward others brings results...that may be even more profound...then your own. As the saying goes: "A true leader produces...better than himself."
3. Patience Patience is not defined as just giving up when things go against you in life. Patience is more like helping others even when their decisions have hurt them, or more importantly, we are not to return the same misconduct...they may have given us. Patience has the ability to look through what a person may do as wrong, and offer them a way that enables them to succeed.
4. Tolerant This quality requires practice, and usually a lot of it. Being able to love someone in spite of the differences you may have, or simply trying to understand why a person may have reacted in a certain matter...this takes unselfish practice. Perhaps it is the toughest quality of all 4 here mentioned, because it requires us to receive God's love and understanding in our own lives...and then deposit what He freely bestows upon us...to others.
A Gleaning from Ephesians 4:2
" You must learn to live your lives in a way that is genuine, a life that brings out the "real you". Yet, in doing so you must seek and begin to see how the Lord sees each of us, and how we are to treat and encourage others in their pursuit to having success in life, having an attitude that models after Him, and gives all the glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mold your new found life in Him by having a humble mindset about you, recognizing that each one of us have been given certain talents and gifts from God...regardless of our backgrounds, our former lifestyles, our educational accomplishments, or our social status.
Develop in your lives a gentleness as well, a gentleness that is fueled by unselfishness, just as the Lord is gentle...with each one of us.
Patience must also work its way into our everyday lives, pouring out ourselves into the lives of those around us and doing real acts of compassion as we work together for a common goal. Having wrong motives, making ill thought decisions, or perhaps hurting one another in our words or deeds...happens to all of us. Yet, through patience and learning the right way...His Way... on how we are to accept and treat one another, enables this powerful virtue to bring Godly results into all of our lives.
Finally, be tolerant of one another, just as God has been and continues to be so tolerant with us. As we forgive one another and make allowances for those we find fault with, an unusual event takes place in our very lives. God's love for us...which includes being tolerant when we "miss the mark", pours His love into our very lives and hearts, and it is at this stage we allow this love He has given us into our own hearts...to flow and offer the same love and tolerance...to others.
There is a saying that goes: " Be alert to the differences between us, yet with the intent of mending the fences, tearing down fences no longer needed, or putting up gates that can be opened...all this work between my neighbor and me, that we might live as friends."
Historians conclude this letter was written sometime between 85 to 90 A.D. In chapter 4 in the letter to the Ephesians, Paul addresses their daily behavior...not just when they are at "church", but when they are living their everyday lives...being out in the world.
Verse 2 brings out 4 different qualities listed by Paul:
1. Be Humble Paul brings across the point that all people are of equal importance to God. No one is more important...than anyone else, inside and outside the church. Being in a humble way of thought allows us to understand others better, make less judgments on one another, and see things in life from various views...that might in return..benefit us.
To the Greek mind during Paul's life, this was quite a challenge. Greeks did not consider being humble as a "good thing", instead, it was frowned upon as a weakness. Greeks often took great pride in being taught under certain teachers such as Aristotle and Plato, but without the luxury of being schooled by great teachers such as these, or in higher social circles that developed the minds of leaders, a person of a more humble background wasn't regarded or given much status.
You hear expressions like: "What does this person know?...they barely have a high school education.", or "What would this person know about this? Have they got any experience on what they are talking about?"...even today.
The Jewish culture had a different concept, mainly due to the Sacred Writings of the Scriptures. Being humble is emphasized throughout its writings with the promise God exalts those who gives honor to others...their abilities, their talents, and their potential in life...for these are all gifts from God.
The other thought about being humble: it is not wrong to be confident in one's thoughts and abilities in life, or the desire to express these gifts that come from God...yet, it is important to note God desires us to spend less time...thinking of only...ourselves.
2. Be Gentle Paul writes being gentle is about living our lives with self control. It is compared to a horse, which is a powerful creature in and of itself, yet when trained and under bridle, produces results that would not be seen if left to go its own way. Being gentle is allowing others to experience life...and helping them receive the "training" you have, and using gentleness toward others brings results...that may be even more profound...then your own. As the saying goes: "A true leader produces...better than himself."
3. Patience Patience is not defined as just giving up when things go against you in life. Patience is more like helping others even when their decisions have hurt them, or more importantly, we are not to return the same misconduct...they may have given us. Patience has the ability to look through what a person may do as wrong, and offer them a way that enables them to succeed.
4. Tolerant This quality requires practice, and usually a lot of it. Being able to love someone in spite of the differences you may have, or simply trying to understand why a person may have reacted in a certain matter...this takes unselfish practice. Perhaps it is the toughest quality of all 4 here mentioned, because it requires us to receive God's love and understanding in our own lives...and then deposit what He freely bestows upon us...to others.
A Gleaning from Ephesians 4:2
" You must learn to live your lives in a way that is genuine, a life that brings out the "real you". Yet, in doing so you must seek and begin to see how the Lord sees each of us, and how we are to treat and encourage others in their pursuit to having success in life, having an attitude that models after Him, and gives all the glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mold your new found life in Him by having a humble mindset about you, recognizing that each one of us have been given certain talents and gifts from God...regardless of our backgrounds, our former lifestyles, our educational accomplishments, or our social status.
Develop in your lives a gentleness as well, a gentleness that is fueled by unselfishness, just as the Lord is gentle...with each one of us.
Patience must also work its way into our everyday lives, pouring out ourselves into the lives of those around us and doing real acts of compassion as we work together for a common goal. Having wrong motives, making ill thought decisions, or perhaps hurting one another in our words or deeds...happens to all of us. Yet, through patience and learning the right way...His Way... on how we are to accept and treat one another, enables this powerful virtue to bring Godly results into all of our lives.
There is a saying that goes: " Be alert to the differences between us, yet with the intent of mending the fences, tearing down fences no longer needed, or putting up gates that can be opened...all this work between my neighbor and me, that we might live as friends."
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