"Be kind"

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV)

Many times, we lose our patience with others; it is in our nature. We are not tolerant of them. We dislike being around others because we have heard or experienced their lack of love, mercy, and or grace. Paul speaks of this very thing in the fourth chapter of Ephesians. Paul says, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” He is not talking of our grieving over the Spirit, but the Spirit's grieving because of our actions. Isaiah said the very same thing, “But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned” (63:10). The Spirit of Christ lives in you, and in your sin, the Spirit grieves because you are redeemed through the blood of Christ, but a shadow over Him.

Christ is the light of the world, and no shadow or darkness will overcome Him. Instead of our human tendencies, let us strive to embody Christ's love and forgiveness in our lives. Throw away the bitterness and anger. When it comes upon you, turn from it to the love and grace of Christ. Even when others are openly antagonistic, judgmental, and offensive, pray for their peace and their salvation.

Remembering who we are in Christ is easy. Remembering who we were before Christ is less pleasant. Most people do not want to remember who they were before Christ. For many, those sins are crushing. It breaks hearts to think of those we have hurt, the embarrassment of our actions, our offensiveness, and open rebellion towards God. Imagine the impact of our actions on our all-holy God. The intensity of the wrath we would have incurred without Christ is horrifying.

When confronted with our rebellious neighbors, family, or others, look at what you were before Christ. It is standing before you. Therefore, like Christ, be tenderhearted and forgiving. We were pulled from the pit by the hand of God, and those who have yet to receive this gift of salvation need mercy. From God and from us, the children of God.

Do not be a Pharisee, do not hate, do not curse, and do not condemn. God will do what is necessary, either for salvation or for condemnation. As we grow in sanctification, purity, and holiness, we reflect Christ more and more. Show others that reflection through actions. As John wrote, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”(1 John 3:17-18).

Grace and Peace.