Ephesians 4:1-3
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, --
Paul is in jail for his preaching the Gospel.
entreat you to walk --
He is begging us in regards to our manner of daily living.
in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, --
Up to the standards of the position we have been invited into in Christ.
with all humility --
This is lowliness of mind, which means we don't even prioritize our own selves, but consider others first.
and gentleness, --
This is meekness; a word that describes a powerful, strong horse which has been tamed and is under the control of the rider.
with patience, --
Longsuffering, suffering long, forbearance or fortitude.
showing forbearance --
"To hold oneself up against:" that is, (figurative) put up with; bear with, endure, suffer.
to one another in love, --
We are to think this way, have this attitude toward each other, considering their needs as having a higher priority over our own. This word love is the Greek word for God's agape love for us.
(Greek is a very precise language, with 5 different words for different kinds of love. God did not need to use all five of these words in His Word; the different phileo love words He used describe brotherly love; parental love for a child; the love of being first, preeminence; and love of silver, of money, avarice. The words used for God's love for us are the phileo love of parent for child, and the agape love that goes beyond the mere emotion of affection, to the decision area of the brain and thought processes that chooses to love unconditionally.)
being diligent --
This is: to use speed: that is, to make the effort, to be prompt or earnest, be diligent (forward), endeavor, labor, study.
to preserve --
This word means: to put a watch on, to guard from loss or injury by keeping the eye upon, to hold fast.
the unity of the Spirit --
This is oneness, unanimity, agreeing fully with one another.
in the bond of peace.
What holds us together; peacefulness, both literally and figuratively; oneness, quietness, rest; set at one again.
So we are to live our daily lives in our relationships with one another loving them as God has loved us, bearing with their faults, giving them the benefit of the doubt every time, giving their needs a higher priority over our own, no matter what the cost, and putting forth the effort to maintain the oneness of mind the Holy Spirit promotes in each of us and all of us.
And to accomplish this will take God's enabling through His Holy Spirit, as we cannot start to approach this kind of living in our own flesh.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
