The apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesian church to forbear with one another. Forbearance requires a skill set that is growing increasingly foreign in today’s world. A world where individual preferences abound and we have increasingly less reason to endure with those things that do not suit us. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Arlan Miller and Kaleb Beyer flush out the attribute of forbearance and expose it for its Christ-like beauty.
Forbearance is enduring with someone or something that doesn’t comply with your favor. Forbearance is not forgiveness, which requires an offense to be pardoned. Forbearance is acknowledging an annoyance but tolerating it. Forbearance is not “facing”, which happens when we confront an unfavorable issue and urge change. Forbearance is expecting the irritant to exist and not becoming bitter that it does. Forbearance is not enjoying, appreciating or celebrating the annoyance. Forbearance is receiving people and loving them despite their unfavorable attributes. Forbearance is not ignoring or avoiding people or who do not strike your fancy. Forbearance is an attribute of Christ towards you.