Seven weeks inside the same house with the same family will drive anyone mad, right? God calls us to have an extraordinary amount of patience with one another. Paul, in Ephesians 4:1-3, says, “I urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Maybe you are at your wit’s end with your family, hopefully this passage helps you lovingly work toward patience.

First, loving others is part of your gospel calling. Instead of living selfishly, the believer selflessly loves God and others. Christ represents this perfectly – He loved God by dying on the cross for us. The gospel saves and calls, it calls us to love God and others.

Do you live with your family in a selfish way? How does your selfishness drive your frustration?

Second, patience is a sign of love and stems from humility. A mark of godly love is patience, bearing with one another in love. Patience is an exercise in humility, considering others more important than yourself. Patience is impossible without humility, we can’t bear with one another without considering their needs more important than ours – especially their need for Christ’s love.

How are you doing with humility lately? How can your humility show your family Christ’s love?

Third, patience takes work. It does not come naturally or easily. So, why put effort into it? Because Christ worked sacrificially, in patience despite our sin, to benefit us. Patience proves your love, love is the art of self-sacrifice, and sacrifice is work.

What makes you doubt working for patience is good? How does Christ’s work help you fight the good fight?