Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

As we progress through the Christian life we live under the imperative to become kind and tenderhearted toward one another. The more we mature in Christ, the more pleasant we will be with one another and the more compassion we will have for one another.

But such progress only occurs in the context of a lifestyle of forgiveness born of a deepening personal understanding of God’s grace.

The subtle, destructive danger that we might think that we somehow merited God’s mercy is ever present with us. This arrogant attitude is well camouflaged behind religious activity, but betrays itself through bitterness, gossip, criticism and a judgmental spirit against those perceived not so special as we are.

How we see God’s forgiveness of ourselves in Christ will determine how pleasant and compassionate we are with others. The gracious are those who are themselves amazed by grace.

Join us Sunday as we learn to pray, “…forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Mat 6:12)