Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
This is a verse that has been covered numerous times in the past in previous devotions, but is always a favorite of mine. It offers so much great information in it and is one you should memorize and meditate on often. Today we look at it with kindness in mind.
We are told by Paul that we are to be kind first and foremost in the verse. Be kind and compassionate to one another. Everything we do, every interaction with others, should be done in kindness and with compassion. We don’t always understand what they are going through or what is going on in their personal lives. Because of that we should always treat people with kindness and compassion. That bad mood they have, the shortness they take with you, or their mistreatment could all stem from something that happened to them before they interacted with you.
Or it might just be them and their personality. You don’t know for sure. But you still respond the same regardless. We respond with kindness in all circumstances, even when everything in us cries and fights against it. We have to remember that our actions and attitude reflect Christ, and sometimes we are the only chance someone gets to see Christ. Are they seeing Him in you and your response? Or are they seeing a Christian who doesn’t act very Christ-like?
In our kindness and compassion we are to forgive. We forgive because He forgave us. That can be challenging when we feel it was unfair or we want to respond in the same way we were treated. But again, are they seeing a Christian or one who is not Christ-like?
Today make every effort to be kind and compassionate to others, even when it doesn’t feel like you want to. Love as Christ loved you.
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