Kindness Breaks Down Barriers
An act of kindness often hard to express is forgiveness. We are instructed to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you” (Ephesians 4: 32).
The preceding verse gives insight into what this entails: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”
God the Father, for Jesus’ sake forgave us. Our forgiveness of one another compared seems insignificant. Yet, it is the significant means by which we demonstrate His likeness in us.
Jesus Christ is still the greatest king of the ages. His cross is the greatest throne of all. His crown of thorns is the most glorious of earthly diadems.
The kindest words ever spoken were uttered in the crucible of crisis amid the pain and cruelty of Calvary as Jesus cried out: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do….”
The greatest thing a person can do for His Heavenly Father is to be kind to his Father’s other children.
It remains to be demonstrated if we will be among His most loyal subjects.
What happened just outside Jerusalem when the sinless Son of God died for the sins of the sons of men can shake to dust the rule of bitterness and hate. Love is stronger than hate, kindness stronger than cruelty, and goodness will outwear evil when Christ conquers a life — by His cross. Resolve to emulate Him.
Jesus taught us to forgive saying, “… whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11: 25).
Therein Jesus made a close connection between forgiving others and ourselves being forgiven. This is important if you have unforgiven sin in your life.
On another occasion Jesus taught on the topic from a different perspective. “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).
Bottom line, the unforgiving are unforgiven because they are unforgivable.
Reflect on this formula: “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you” (Ephesians 4: 32).
Think of the person you are struggling to forgive. Then resolve: “Jesus I love you. You forgave me and now out of gratitude I want to demonstrate to you my appreciation by forgiving this person.”
That is the most definitive form of kindness.
If needful pray a prayer like this: “Father, please forgive me when I permit bitterness, anger, wrath or anything else to keep me from forgiving others. Help me to surrender my rights and forgive as you forgave me.”