Kind and Compassionate: Ephesians 4:31

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32(NIV)

Paul is writing from prison; he is extolling the Ephesians to live the way God’s people should live.

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Ephesians 4:4

He explains how to thrive in the power and grace of Christ rather than stumbling in sinful actions. Instead of holding on to bitterness, rage, anger, slander, and quarreling; embrace kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Be forgiving like Christ God forgives you; live as children of light.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred.
Ephesians 4:31 (ISV)

When kindness, compassion, and forgiveness; are embraced, bitterness is replaced with love and care for each other. As Jesus said, the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

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Forgiveness encourages compassion and kindness and brings peace. Are you able to let go of anger and rage and forgive?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father teach us to let go of anger and bitterness; and forgive. Teach us to be kind and compassionate, tender-hearted with a Christ-like attitude of love. Like the begonias and chrysanthemums in the photo grow together and thrive, let us learn to forgive and love one another and thrive. In Jesus’ holy loving name. Amen

Forgive: Ephesians 4:32

Croton Plant

³²Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
C.S. Lewis

When we have been wronged, when others have hurt us it is difficult to forgive. Why should we be kind, tender-hearted to someone cruel who has made our life miserable? Why, because Jesus forgives our sins, our inexcusable wrongs. Harboring anger, searching for revenge, is bad for our health and bad for our souls. Try to let go of anger, try to be kind and forgive, act like Jesus.

Where is anger, or hurt holding you back from forgiveness?

Prayer: Our Father, we thank you for forgiving us and loving us with unconditional love. Teach us to be kind and compassionate to each other. Like the leaves of the croton plant, spread upward illuminated by the sun, help us to reach upward to You, Your truth, Your light, Your love. Let Your face shine, upon us, and teach us to forgive, give us peace. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Perfect Harmony: Colossians 3:14

¹²Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Lord, help us to learn to practice kindness. Teach us to practice humility, meekness, and patience. Let compassion fill our hearts; love as our cloak. Lord, give us the wisdom to forgive and strive for perfect harmony.

Where in your life do you need to give forgiveness and put on love?

Prayer: Dear Lord, like these petals, turn inward toward the center help us to turn inward and be humble. Help us to be meek and patient like this immature blossom rather than brash, and worldly. Lord let your unconditional love be a model for us to clothe ourselves in love and find perfect harmony. In Jesus holy name. Amen