You might not think that just “putting up” with someone was a very godly thing to do — but it is actually the literal translation of a Bible word in Colossians 3:13. The New American Standard translates it “bearing with one another, but the Greek Bible word is “anexomenoi” — literally, “putting up” with one another”. Yep, sometimes that’s just what you have to do!

There are people you just have to “put up” with in the church (some may be coming to mind right now! 🙂 It is the same in the home, with your kids or spouse or other relatives (tread softly here!;) — there are moments when you just have to “put up” with them! Same on the job. And in your neighborhood. Upon occasion you may be disgusted with an individual’s actions or attitudes, but “putting up with them” is just what you have to do.

Now, the the verse goes on to say that we are not merely to “put up” with each of these; we also forgive them too, and much more! But it is very interesting — and instructive to us, and should be very useful to us especially as we deal with each other in the church — to understand that by God’s Spirit, sometimes we just need to gracefully “put up” with each other at church, home, and elsewhere; being as patient, forgiving, loving, and understanding with them, as God is with us!