In Colossians 3:12-14, “forbearance” (“bear with each other’), and forgiveness are put together. We use the word “patience” in the place of forbearance today. The mark of a person who lives in grace is that they are willing to “put up” with others. Love not only covers a multitude of sins, but also a multitude of faults in one another. The extent of our love for each other will be based on our consciousness of and appreciation of God’s love for us. Forgiveness differs from forbearance in that it has to do with real wrongs committed against us. Christian living by grace recognizes our own spiritual bankruptcy, and by recognizing our bankruptcy it leads us to put on the garments of grace. We must begin and end with an understanding of our unworthiness to have God’s grace, but the wonder of receiving that grace. Today, as we lay aside our remnants of self-goodness and admit our total spiritual bankruptcy, we can drink deeply from the infinite grace of God. This drink will provide for us an awareness of what we have received, and extend that same spirit of grace to others.
