Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 [ESV]
Here we are at the final verse of chapter 4. What an awesome conclusion it is. So simple and straightforward after having ‘put away’ all of the other things yesterday.
Be Kind: Just do it. Kindness is not just a fruit of the spirit, it is a command here in Ephesians in the context of church unity.
Be Tenderhearted: We are to be compassionate and empathetic to one another in terms of struggle, patience, perseverance, and trials. We walk alongside one another in life and our Life Groups at Canyon Hills is where we see this put into action the most.
…and now the big one -> Be Forgiving: Paul adds in the reinforcement of “as God in Christ forgave you”. Here again we have the aspect of being in Christ and it is because of what He has done that we have forgiveness of our sins. The cross is the great equalizer; we have no excuse and no status in where we are because we are all deserving of the wrath from God for our sin. But God, in His great mercy rescued us from eternal punishment. We should be *very* quick to forgive others.
Application:
All of these things are indicative of a life surrendered to Jesus. When I am in this place where Jesus envelops all that I am, I will tend to be more and more like Him. Kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving. What is embarrassing is that I am sitting here thinking about how I aspire to be a light and witness at work, and I have more wins than I have losses….but thinking about home, I am at best 50/50 and at worst more losses than wins. That is pitiful. My application today is to immediately put verse 32 into practice every moment of the day, most importantly when I am at home…quick to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.
Today’s Psalm:
The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
Psalms 37:39-40
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.