Allowance

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)

We're to be Christlike. He is the ultimate example of humility, gentleness, patience and love. Not only so, but He empowers us by His Holy Spirit to become conformed to His likeness.

Christ humbled Himself to death on a cross on our behalf. He was gentle with people who were cruel to Him. He was patient with those who murdered Him, and prayed, 'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing'.

Because of Christ's love, God can make allowances for our faults. We deserve His condemnation, but thankfully we can be forgiven because of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. Our sins can't just be brushed under the carpet, they have to be dealt with at the cross.

We're not to be humble, gentle, patient and loving to earn God's favour. Because God favours us in Christ, we're to be humble, gentle, patient and loving. We aren't to be proud, harsh, impatient and hateful.

'Father God, please help us to be Christlike, to be humble, gentle, patient and loving. In His name we pray, amen'

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