Grumpy. Overthinking. Anxious.

These are all good descriptive words of things we can fight as we work through disability and chronic illness, especially during times of flare-ups. Yet, God calls the children of God above these things, especially in our relation to the way we treat other people.

Let’s look at the next few verses in our “one another” passages:

• Forgive one another:
  • Ephesians 4:2, “² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”
    We are to be longsuffering and forbearing with one another. It doesn’t say just when we feel like it, but simply to do it. This hits me hard. I think that it is get frustrated with others when we lose so much of our independence and are in pain.
  • Ephesians 4:32, “³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
    Be kind; be tenderhearted; be forgiving. Why, God forgives us for Christ’s sake. We should forgive others.
  • Colossians 3:13, “¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
    Forgive. We see it again. Forgive. 
• Be patient with one another
  • Ephesians 4:32, “³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
  • Colossians 3:13, “¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
• Speak the truth in love
  • Ephesians 4:15, 25
    • “¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
    • ^“25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
      We see in these verses that it is desired to speak truth with those around us, but spake the truth in love. That is the key: speak the truth in love.
• Be kind and compassionate to one another
  • Ephesians 4:32, “³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
    Even in our own suffering, we can show compassion to others.

These verses have challenged my heart and given me fresh resolve that through Christ’s strength God can help me fulfill the instructions in these verses. I can forgive, show kindness, and be compassionate even in the midst of pain. How amazing that God can use us this way!