Ephesians 4:2–4
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…
God requires me to love others like i do my own family. He created all people, not just those that society deems worthy, ALL. This includes all the people of all nations… male and female, Jew and Greek, those in nations that are a democracy and those that live in a dictatorship. All people!! All of creation is worthy in the eyes of God to be treated with respect and dignity. What I do to the least of anyone I do to God. Carla
Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as •Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God •the Father through Him. (NKJV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly is apparently a parallel thought to Paul’s statement in Ephesians 5:18 where he says to be “filled with the Spirit.” The psalms are the psalms found in the Old Testament, the “songbook” of the early church as well as of Israel. The hymns would be the songs of the church that reflected the new truth in Christ.
Paul sums up how Christians should live. We should commit everything we do or say to Jesus and continually thank God for all His good gifts. The NKJV Study Bible
Originally, God chose the nation of Israel to be His people (Deuteronomy 14:2; Romans 9:4–5). However, because such distinctions are rendered irrelevant in Christ (Colossians 3:11), Paul affirms the Colossian believers as being among God’s chosen people.
Believers must have patience with one another, even while enduring difficult situations. Even in the community of believers, the actions of some offend or hurt others; how believers respond is critical. Experiencing God’s forgiveness shows that believers must forgive one another (Luke 7:47).
The Greek word used here for peace, eirēnē, refers to wholeness or the absence of conflict in a relationship. Paul commands the Colossians to express gratitude for the things they have and the people in their lives. Gratitude is a safeguard against grumbling and complaining, both of which can ruin a community.
The word of Christ refers either to the gospel message about Christ or to Christ’s teaching (as opposed to human philosophies or traditions; Colossians 2:8).
Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs refers to a variety of songs used in Christian worship, probably including the Old Testament psalms. Faithlife Study Bible
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 5:19–20
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 1:28
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
We are reminded that labels are a constraint, because once we label something, we can easily dismiss it.
"During a recent Center for Courage and Renewal conversation between author Terry Tempest Williams and Parker Palmer, Terry shared this story: After devastating flash floods struck her community, neighbors came together, not to debate their differences, but to share what they loved: the stars overhead, the sound of coyotes at night, the beauty of the land they called home.
'Right then,' Terry said, 'tenderness was born.'
From that tenderness came something powerful: trust.
Trust doesn't appear on its own. It's built when people listen deeply, stay connected to their values, and find the courage to care for one another." (Thank you, Center for Courage and Renewal)
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” Sabbath Moments
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