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3/24 Reading Portions: Exodus 35; John 14; Proverbs 11; Ephesians 4
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
FORGIVE
If there was ever a verse of Scripture we should commit to memory, it is this one. My corrupt flesh must be shed of my indifference to this (Eph 4:22). My mind needs to be renewed by its precious truth constantly (Eph 4:23)… of all three behaviors exhorted here, but most especially in forgiving others. Without getting into the responsibility of others to repent (Luke 17:4), or of retaining or remitting sins (John 20:23), let us meditate upon the command in context— of forgiving one another as saints in Christ.
Forgiving a brother or sister in Christ should seem quite obvious, especially as we’re reminded that God in Christ forgave us when He saved us. Moreover, God did so while we were without strength and ungodly sinners (Rom 5:6, 8) who were enemies of God (Rom 5:10). If God has done so for you and me while we were wretches, it would seem the acme of wickedness to withhold forgiveness from a brother or sister in Christ, whom God has saved by the precious sacrifice and shed blood of Jesus Messiah.
When we harbor an unforgiving heart, it is because we’ve lost something along the way in the process of our spiritual growth, as those sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption (Eph 4:30). If we’ve lost our sympathetic compassion (tenderhearted) for others, we may foster an unforgiving spirit. Have we lost our grace and kindness for others? This will cause coldness, spiritual callousness, and a dispassionate heart. If we have failed to put away any bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, or malice (Eph 4:31), kindness will wane, a tender heart will wax cold, and an unforgiving spirit will brew within. Whenever we fall prey to these unworthy foes, we must take it to Christ’s cross until we are humbled to gentleness with patience and love (Eph 4:2). At the cross, Christ will bind us with the peace He promised to give His disciples (John 14:27; Eph 4:3). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Forgiveness may elude us for
Some bitter wrath inside:
We must go to th’cross of our dear Lord;
The Spirit, He will guide.
