The Daily Word

We will finish off our brief study of Ephesians 4 v 32 with the most challenging of all the exhortations in the verse, which in full says this, “be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another”. We can be kind for most of the time, tender hearted for some of the time, but forgiving, which also includes and element of forgetting is the most difficult of all. When we feel we have been hurt by words or actions of someone else, whether intentional or not, to forgive and move on is very hard. It is easy to point to the way Jesus forgives us, but we have a human nature that many times overrules the implanted divine nature that we received when we took the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. His divine nature, despite being tried vastly more than ours, ultimately triumphed and we can never thank Him enough for that!

When Andrew and Peter, as both brothers and Disciples, asked Jesus how often they should forgive each other, Jesus effectively answered that it should be infinite! That same exhortation is repeated by Paul in this verse.

Should we decide or feel incapable of forgiving our brothers and sisters, particularly within our own church family, it will have 2 effects. The first is that it will inhibit our fellowship with our Saviour. It is almost like unconfessed sin and will have the same result. But also, it will ultimately, or even quickly, because we have such a small fellowship, drag down the whole fellowship as others notice the brokenness of fellowship between the 2 parties. It could even lead to a total split and even the complete ruination of the church. These things are of utmost seriousness. It is absolutely essential that NO disharmony is introduced into the church through offence and lack of forgiveness.

I realise that this is asking great tolerance but the route to dealing with personal offence is clearly laid out within the New Testament. If there is repentance shown, then forgiveness is easier to achieve. But if no repentance is shown we still have the exhortation to forgive and not carry a grudge. It may make us warier of trust but at least our hearts will be right before God.

Article written by Brian Preston, Elder @SFGH Church