Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Into the Text
I love a check-list. There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment when I am able to complete my to-do list. Reading this portion of Ephesians can feel like a check-list of how a Christian is supposed to live.
Though these are principles we are to live by, our faith is not based on a set of rules. We are not working for acceptance from God. Rather, our actions are the result of the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in us and our gratitude for the love, forgiveness, and acceptance we have already received from Jesus.
With that, Paul writes that our words, thoughts, and actions should point others to Christ and not away from Him. The way we do this is by keeping love at the forefront of all that we do and allowing forgiveness to be our first response to others (John 13:35).
While God knows that we won’t reach perfection while in this body, He does call us to strive for holiness and faithfulness. When we faithfully seek to love others and ask for forgiveness when we fall short, we honor God with our lives. We also encourage other believers in the church to continue to seek after Christ as well.
So today, look for ways to perform a simple act of kindness. Tell someone that you’re thankful for them. Seek reconciliation where anger may have gotten the best of you. Seek to build others up through your words rather than giving in to gossip.
By this, the world will know that you are a child of God, and others may come to know Him through the way you live.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you that I am accepted by your grace. I pray that I can live in a way that honors your name and points others to you. Amen.