Our relationship with one another in the body of Christ is critically important.  Our oneness and unity lead others to believe in Jesus.

John 17:20-21 (ESV)
²⁰  “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹  that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Can you see the importance of disciples of Christ being united in Him?  Our bond to each other is a badge of our discipleship, and it is what makes us different from the world.  There is great division in the world.  People are divided by everything from race to social status, and in many cases, there is a great deal of hostility that exists between the many different groups of people.  However, the church is the place where we are all one regardless of the physical differences between us.

Ephesians 2:13-15 (ESV)
¹³  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵  by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

What does all this have to do with forbearing and forgiving one another?  Everything!  Without the willingness to forbear and forgive brethren, maintaining unity is impossible.  Once in a while brethren sin against each other.  Sometimes brethren have personalities and character traits that other brethren just do not like.  Not everyone gets along all the time in the body of Christ; hence, the need for forbearance and forgiveness.

Colossians 3:13 (KJV)
¹³  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

The word forbearing means “to put up with or endure” (Strong).  This takes humility.  We can love, and even like, others, even though we may not like everything about them.  None of us are perfect.  There is something about us all that someone does not like.  Only the very arrogant expect others to be exactly like them, not realizing that if they could find such a person, it would be a person with flaws.  When we recognize our own shortcomings, we can better be forbearing with those who may irritate us in some way.

What about those who actually sin against us?  It is one thing to put up with someone’s personal characteristics that irritate us, but isn’t sin a different matter?   Yes, sin is more serious than some personality flaw, but we still must deal with it, and Jesus tells us how.  “…If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3).

Let’s not be guilty of grudge-holding.  We have a responsibility to forgive one another as long as repentance takes place.  To do otherwise will lead to friction and disunity in the church, and that is exactly what we should be striving to avoid.  The unity and oneness that will lead others to Christ will only exist if we are humble enough to be forbearing with one another and forgive each other when we sin.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things