by Richelle Hecker

Bearing with one another for God’s sake.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link

The holiday season can be quite difficult. We spend this time focusing on our relationships with others, which can be a huge blessing but can also become quite painful. Relationships in general are hard. If we are honest, we will admit that all of us are a bit rough around the edges. None of us is perfect, and this means that there will be times when we hurt others or they hurt us.

This jetty, in Port Aransas, Texas, is made of huge granite stones placed a few inches apart from each other extending into the Gulf of Mexico. Some were rougher than others, with deep scars on them formed when they were moved to this place. No two of them were exactly the same. There were various sizes, they had different colors, and likely were moved there from different places at different times. Still they also had commonalities. They were placed there for a specific purpose, none of them were perfect, and they were all surrounded by (and constantly washed over by) the same water.

We are very like these stones.  Some of us have arrived where we are with deep scars from our pasts. We come in different shades, shapes, and sizes. Yet we are all placed in close proximity to the others in our lives for a specific purpose. God uses us, and our relationships with each other, to reach a greater objective than we would reach if we stood alone. Most importantly He continues to constantly wash over, and around, each of us with His love, healing, and forgiveness. All He asks is that we bear with, and forgive, one another as He does this.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 New International Version

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado