By Andrew Williams
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
Good morning fellow disciples.
As followers of Christ, we have been the profound recipients of God’s unmerited mercy and grace. Though we were once lost in our sin and rebellion, the Father sent His only Son to pay the ultimate price, redeeming us and restoring us to a right relationship with Him. This transformative truth should not only fill our hearts with overwhelming gratitude, but it should also compel us to extend that same compassion and forgiveness to those around us.
Colossians 3:12-13 describes the attributes that should characterize the lives of believers: “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing 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.” When we truly grasp the magnitude of our own forgiveness and the incomprehensible grace we have received, it becomes increasingly difficult to withhold that same mercy from others.
1 Peter 3:8-9 exhorts us to “have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” As we encounter those who have wronged us or fall short of our expectations, we are called to respond with the same compassion and grace that has been lavished upon us by our Heavenly Father.
Extending mercy and grace in the face of hurt or offense is no easy task. Our natural inclination is often to hold onto bitterness, resentment, and a desire for retribution. Yet, when we choose to forgive as we have been forgiven, we not only honor God and reflect His character, but we also experience the freedom and healing that can only come from surrendering our need for vengeance.
Choosing to extend mercy and grace is a daily, moment-by-moment decision that requires the transformative power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. It is a choice that goes against the grain of our fallen human nature, yet it is a choice that brings glory to God and unleashes the reconciling love of Christ in a hurting world. As we faithfully walk this path, may we be a people marked by compassion, kindness, and the relentless pursuit of forgiveness – for this is the heart of the Gospel we proclaim.
Prayer: Father God, we stand in awe of the depth of Your mercy and grace, which has been so lavishly poured out upon our lives. Forgive us for the times when we have failed to extend that same compassion and forgiveness to those around us. Help us to cultivate hearts that are tender, humble, and quick to overlook the offenses of others, just as You have overlooked ours.
Give us the strength and the courage to overcome the natural inclination to hold grudges or seek revenge, and instead, empower us to bless those who have wronged us. May the way we treat others be a tangible reflection of the transformative work You have done in our own lives. Use us as instruments of Your reconciling love, that the world may see the beauty of the Gospel lived out in our relationships. In Jesus’ name, Amen.