Showing Forgiveness Means Tenderhearted

                                                     When The Door Slams

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.                                                                                                    Ephesians 4:31,32. 

        The book of Ephesians describes the behavior that ought to characterize Christians as they relate to one another. Our actions ought to be filled with kindness. Kindness is love expressed in practical ways; it is putting the needs of others before our own. It is done on purpose, in ways to meet other people's needs.

        Being tenderhearted means that we are sensitive to the feelings of others. When a fellow Christian experiences sorrow, we grieve also (1 Cor. 12:26). When another believer is joyful, we, too, rejoice. Being tenderhearted means showing compassion toward those around us.

        We show forgiveness because we, too, fall short of God's ideal. knowing that God has graciously saved us from destruction, which motivates us to forgive others when they offend us. It is not easy to forgive when betrayed by someone you love. Often we are less patience with our fellow Christian than we are with nonbelievers. We expect more obedient of Christians, and when they fail us we feel betrayed. When this happens, we need to look closely at the cross and remember the forgiveness we received there. We must set aside the self-centered attitude that leads to impatience and criticism of others.

        Think about this: How long will injustice flourish? God's answer is direct: not long. Scripture reveals a serious promise: "He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world" (Acts 17:31).    "Judgment Day" is an unpopular term. We frown upon judgment, but we value justice, yet the second is impossible without the first. One can't have justice without judgment. For that reason "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in his or her body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthian 5:10). From His throne Jesus will forever balance the scales of fairness.

        Jesus did not say that the world will know Him by our miracles, by our grand testimonies, or by our vast Bible knowledge. The world will know Him by the love that Christians show to one another (John 13:35). Are you constantly in conflict with others. Ask God to give you kindness, a tender heart, and a forgiving spirit. As you allow the Holy Spirit to build these qualities into you, your life will be a blessing to others around you.   

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord God and thank Him for His forgiveness.

                                                                            Never Rest Ministries