Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
A Tremendous Gift from God
Community is such a beautiful thing and a tremendous gift from God. I'm so grateful that Paul took the time to leave us these instructions for how we truly live out biblical community and what it looks like.
Today's Verse of the Day is Ephesians chapter 4, verse 32. "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
Instead of What?
Before we can unpack that and go any deeper, we have to understand that the word "instead" is doing the heavy lifting here. If Paul says "instead," then we must logically ask the question: instead of what?
To get the answer to this question, we must read verse 31 first. That's where we figure out what Paul wants gone. Let's read verse 31 together. It says, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior."
Paul leaves this list. Paul is beautiful in that he doesn't just tell us to change something—he tells us what to change. Then he tells us how to do it, which is what he leaves with us in this verse: "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
Be Kind to One Another
Kindness is something that this world needs more than anything. Who better to show the world? Who better to lead the way than the body of believers, which is you and I?
Some of these words and concepts might sound fancy, and you think, well, that's for the super spiritual people who are always at church, and they never mess up, and they never miss. That's for the pastors and the teachers and the preachers. No, it's for you, and it's for me. It's for all of us, because we're all God's children. We get to show a true reflection of Christ to the world by choosing to be kind to one another.
Be Tenderhearted
I love this word "tenderhearted." Be tenderhearted. This is to show compassion. That's like if a friend comes to you—or think of it if you have a child or a sibling, somebody you care about deeply—and they're in the midst of a struggle, a deep struggle. They come to you, and they're in tears, and they're overwhelmed, and they share their heart with you. Are you going to say, that's not my problem, and just move about your day?
That's the opposite of being tenderhearted. The reality is, we do see a lot of people who respond to one another this way. It's very easy to become self-centered and self-absorbed in the world in which we live. I mean, social media, advertisements—there are all types of companies creating things that force you to rely solely on you, to think of you only.
That's not what God wants. That's not God's heart. In the context of this chapter, God is talking about us being unified as a body, and now He's teaching us how to treat one another in the body. That's to be kind and to be tenderhearted. Don't harden your heart when somebody's going through something. If you see someone, maybe they just need an ear.
You might think, well, I'm not educated enough. I don't know the Scripture enough to lead someone through it. I don't know how to unpack it. Guess what? You have a heart that God gave you, and it's a heart for Him and His people. Sometimes all you need is a listening ear. You don't have to have all the words. You just need to be present. God's Spirit will do the heavy lifting.
Forgiving One Another
This last piece of this verse is one that can be very difficult for us, and that is "forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." The Greek word that Paul uses here means to send away a debt, to release someone from a debt.
What he's actually saying is, when you talk about forgiving, sometimes that means giving people what they don't deserve and releasing them from something you feel you're owed—and maybe you are owed. But guess what? In that same way we forgive others, God has forgiven you. That past, those choices, those decisions, those things you're not so proud of—guess what? God has released you from those the moment you chose to give your heart to Jesus Christ. You are forgiven.
He challenges us to give that same gift to our community. If we'll choose to love, if we'll choose to be kind, if we'll be tenderhearted to one another and forgive one another, we will have life-giving, beautiful, mutually equitable relationships and community that literally is the greatest gift from God for a lifetime.
The Challenge
This is the challenge, and this is my challenge, and this is God's challenge to you: stay focused on being that biblical community by following Paul's example, and watch the blessings that overflow from Him.
