Kind, Tender, Forgiving

In the last half of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul turned to practical matters. His focus was on how these Believers should “walk.” Their lives should have been changed by knowing Jesus, but clearly, compromises were taking place. As Christians, they were to be different than the world around them, yet they still were acting as if nothing was changed.

Some even had returned to their former lifestyles. But Paul wanted to remind them of how they were supposed to live. In particular, he stressed the difference that following Jesus should make in their relationships.

He warned against the destructive influences of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. These needed to “be put away” and eliminated from their lives. Then Paul provided four principles to guide them in these relationships.

First, they were to be “kind.” The Greek word here came from a root meaning “to receive a loan or borrow.” This meant remembering that everything they had was theirs on loan. All their money and possessions, their talents and abilities…everything!

They also were to be tenderhearted and compassionate, to genuinely care about others. They also were to be forgiving people—in every relationship, to forgive others just as God had forgiven them.

In all things, they were to remember how God had treated them. They needed to be careful not to be self-centered or dominated by pride, not to think only about themselves and their desires. Instead, they were to stay humble and remember God’s mercy, His favor, and His forgiveness.

These same principles are true in our relationships today. Ask God to help you to be kind and tenderhearted. Be a forgiving person…humble…truly surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.