Have the right aptitude by being “ patient with each other , making allowance for each other ’ s faults because of your love ”.
ERS
Reversing the role , if you have a complaint or criticism , communicate it with humility , realizing that you do not have a monopoly of truth and you could be wrong . And in all interactions , treat people with kindness and graciousness , remembering that they are made in God ’ s image and are no less than you .
Second , have the right aptitude by being “ patient with each other , making allowance for each other ’ s faults because of your love ” ( Eph . 4:2 ). This addresses the way we approach others . It is not just what to say and do , or how to say and do . It is also about when to say and do . Someone says that “ the hardest test in life is having the patience to wait for the right moment .”
Though some people think that I am a patient person , the truth is that I struggle to be patient . I have to remind myself of the need to be patient if I want to make a real difference in any challenging situation . And over the years , God has sent me people and put me in situations where I have no choice but be patient .
This call to patience is necessary because people around us react and respond differently from us . Some will frustrate you with their slowness . Others don ’ t see the point soon enough . Yet others
Have the right aptitude by being “ patient with each other , making allowance for each other ’ s faults because of your love ”.
won ’ t repent quickly enough . Many won ’ t serve actively enough . Some will pray too long or not pray enough . And we just want to move fast and efficiently to get things done . Why can ’ t they move as fast ?
When we feel impatient , we need to remind ourselves that anyone can say he loves others but not everyone can wait to prove that it is true . Waiting is a sign of true love for “ love is patient , love is kind ” ( 1 Cor . 13:4 ). Patience requires us to put up with their faults and weaknesses , even as they must put up with ours . While we must firmly confront a brother or sister who sins , there is no need to be confrontational in dealing with quirks and idiosyncrasies of people we love . Patience is the best way to handle these bothersome irritating stuff if we are true to our peacemaking mission .
Peace is indeed a gift from God . Every experience of peace rests , at its base , upon the peacemaking work of Christ on the cross . Knowing peace each day is , therefore , a blessing from God . The Psalmist says as much , “ The Lord gives his people strength . The Lord blesses them with peace . ( Ps . 29:11 ). As we are blessed , so we bless others . One of the best ways to bless others as God has blessed us is to give others the blessings of peace .
That is the role of the peacemaker .
Dr William Wan , a retired lawyer and pastor , is a pioneer member of the Asian Beacon Editorial Board ( in the late 1960s ). He is currently the General Secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement and Chairman of Prison Fellowship Singapore . A grand-dad of three teenagers , he is an ambassador for active aging and is on the board of several nonprofit organisations . He is a published author and speaks and preaches regularly .
ASIAN BEACON 48 # 1 December 2016 - January 2017 27