Thinking About Grace...Part 13
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).
There are many difficult things that we are told to do in the Scriptures, but is it possible this is the hardest one? Paul doesn't give any options. I want him to say (and maybe you do, too), "be kind and compassionate to those whom you like" or "who are like you." Or, "Be kind and compassionate to those who are kind and compassionate back to you." But that's not what he says. He says to be kind and compassionate to one another, without exception.
How do I know there is not an exception? Because of his word about forgiveness. We are to forgive others in the same way God has forgiven us. Does God pick and choose which sins he will forgive? Does he make a list and say, "I'll forgive sins 1-8 and number 15, but the others, well, you're on your own, buddy!" No, we're told that when we come to him, he forgives us across the board. No exceptions. And if that's the way God has forgiven us, and if we're to forgive others in the way God has forgiven us...well, that doesn't seem to leave any room for exceptions, does it?
And do you know what that takes? Yes. Grace.
Giving what is undeserved. Getting what is undeserved. Forgiveness because we have been forgiven. Mercy because we have been given mercy.
I know I don't deserve grace. I know the depth of my own brokenness and the ways I have been unfaithful to God. I bet you do, too. Most of us don't need our sin pointed out. What we need is grace. And while we're eager to receive it from God, we're often reluctant to give it to others. What would the world look like if even just Christians were more kind and compassionate, as Paul directs and as Jesus demonstrated?
Those who have been forgiven are called to forgive. That's grace. Undeserved, yet oh so welcome.
There are many difficult things that we are told to do in the Scriptures, but is it possible this is the hardest one? Paul doesn't give any options. I want him to say (and maybe you do, too), "be kind and compassionate to those whom you like" or "who are like you." Or, "Be kind and compassionate to those who are kind and compassionate back to you." But that's not what he says. He says to be kind and compassionate to one another, without exception.
How do I know there is not an exception? Because of his word about forgiveness. We are to forgive others in the same way God has forgiven us. Does God pick and choose which sins he will forgive? Does he make a list and say, "I'll forgive sins 1-8 and number 15, but the others, well, you're on your own, buddy!" No, we're told that when we come to him, he forgives us across the board. No exceptions. And if that's the way God has forgiven us, and if we're to forgive others in the way God has forgiven us...well, that doesn't seem to leave any room for exceptions, does it?
And do you know what that takes? Yes. Grace.
Giving what is undeserved. Getting what is undeserved. Forgiveness because we have been forgiven. Mercy because we have been given mercy.
I know I don't deserve grace. I know the depth of my own brokenness and the ways I have been unfaithful to God. I bet you do, too. Most of us don't need our sin pointed out. What we need is grace. And while we're eager to receive it from God, we're often reluctant to give it to others. What would the world look like if even just Christians were more kind and compassionate, as Paul directs and as Jesus demonstrated?
Those who have been forgiven are called to forgive. That's grace. Undeserved, yet oh so welcome.
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