EPHESIANS 4:32

“Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Oh wow! What a verse! This should be so easy for us, shouldn’t it? If we love Jesus, we should be kind, compassionate and forgiving. I have been hurt in the past that demanded my forgiveness. I have hurt others in the past that required me to seek forgiveness. It takes an effort. It’s not natural to our flesh, but it is natural to Christ.

Paul wants so much for these believers to whom he is writing to know the joy that comes from kindness, compassion and forgiveness. The body of Christ can’t function fully without these being practiced. The Greek word for “kind” is chrestos which is really a combination of kindness and goodness. This only comes from God. “Compassion” is eusplagchnos. I have to quote this definition because you probably wouldn’t believe me otherwise. HELPS Word studies says it is “the visceral organs (bowels) as they exercise positive gut-level sympathy (empathy, compassion) – i.e. ‘living with guts.’” And “forgiving” is xarízomai which is show grace or favor to someone.

APPLICATION

Can I address the forgiveness thing first? I truly believe this is the hardest things for Christians to get victory over. It is hard to forgive sometimes when we have been hurt. But Christ demands that we do it. Look back at the verse for today and focus on that last phrase which says, “just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” How has Christ forgiven you? How much has Christ forgiven you? And we won’t forgive someone for something they may have done to us? That is really sad.

I also believe you truly can’t forgive unless you show kindness and compassion. That word for compassion is only used one other time in 1 Peter 3:8. “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble;” Kindness doesn’t take a lot of effort, does it? We can all be kind.

One last thing about today’s verse. Both verbs that are used here, “be” and “forgiving,” are Present Imperatives. That means they are commands that you are to keep doing. You don’t do these once and stop. They are continuous – just like Christ continually forgives you. Be Jesus to someone today by being kind, compassionate and forgiving.

Lord, I don’t have the capacity to do these things, but in Your strength I can.