Ephesians 4:32

Ephesians 4:32

Thoughts from Alex Morse

Dive Deeper

Godfidence- Swipe
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"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Ephesians 4:32

Godfidence- Behind the Scenes
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This week in the God-fidence series, we're looking into the concept of forgiveness and how important it is in our walk with Jesus and our interactions with others. Ephesian 4:32 calls us to not only be forgiving but also kind and tenderhearted.

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This verse comes at the end of a chapter that calls for unity and holiness among God's people and I can't help but zero in on the fact that Paul highlights forgiveness at the very end: "forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." True forgiveness is not only something that we are called to do, but it’s also the lynchpin for true unity and holiness.

Slide

Unity is only possible in the church body when forgiveness is practiced relationally, and holiness is attainable because we have been forgiven by God, through Christ, allowing us to pursue holiness in our daily walk. If you haven't read through Ephesians Chapter 4 recently, I encourage you to read back through it with this perspective of forgiveness in mind.

Slide

Don’t get me wrong; forgiveness is a high calling and many times easier said than done. Particularly, in the light of Jesus’ readiness to ask the Father to forgive those who were crucifying him because “they did not know what they were doing” (Luke 23:34). But having a rhythm of forgiveness in our relationships is accomplishable through the power of the Holy Spirit, not out of our own strength. Yes, God desires a higher calling for us but also provides the spiritual strength to make it happen. How encouraging is that!

Godfidence- Make it Real
Slide

What is easier for you to do: forgive or ask for forgiveness? Personally, I struggle with both! I find it easier to ask for forgiveness from others but forget that I need to ask for God’s forgiveness too. When it comes to forgiving, many times I can harbor ill feelings even when that person has asked for forgiveness. Emotions can be misleading, but Christ doesn’t call us to forgive because we “feel” like it. Rather Christ presents it as an integral part of prayer and obedience (Luke 6:12-15).

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Humility can be a posture that fosters forgiveness, yet humility is not considered a virtue in our society and the church often misses this cue too. Paul notes in Ephesians 4:32 that we should exhibit kindness and tenderheartedness towards one another, in addition to forgiveness. They’re not emotional responses but outpouring results of a changed heart.

Slide

Tenderheartedness is showing compassion or pity toward those who wrong us, by seeking to understand their perspective or reasoning behind the trespass. This is crucial in our modern day where social media and the internet are tools used to lash out and “get back” at someone. The world seems to say, “Don’t admit you’re wrong, because then you will have to lie when you say you’re sorry”. God says, “admit you’re wrong and allow my grace and forgiveness to flow through you, not because you deserve it but because Christ’s sacrifice does”.

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Who is that someone today who needs your forgiveness? Who is that someone you need to ask for forgiveness? When was the last time you took a posture of humility and asked for forgiveness from your heavenly Father?

Godfidence- End in Prayer
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Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you first and foremost for forgiveness at the cross, sacrificing your son Jesus so that we may have new life in Him. We humbly acknowledge that we don’t deserve it yet ask that you give us clarity in our daily walk to root out unforgiveness in our hearts, in our relationships, and in your church. May we be beacons to those around us who desire to know true forgiveness as only you can provide. Amen

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“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”   

Ephesians 4:32

Behind the Scenes

This week in the God-fidence series, we’re looking into the concept of forgiveness and how important it is in our walk with Jesus and our interactions with others. Ephesian 4:32 calls us to not only be forgiving but also kind and tenderhearted. 

This verse comes at the end of a chapter that calls for unity and holiness among God’s people and I can’t help but zero in on the fact that Paul highlights forgiveness at the very end: “forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  True forgiveness is not only something that we are called to do, but it’s also the lynchpin for true unity and holiness. 

Unity is only possible in the church body when forgiveness is practiced relationally, and holiness is attainable because we have been forgiven by God, through Christ, allowing us to pursue holiness in our daily walk. If you haven’t read through Ephesians Chapter 4 recently, I encourage you to read back through it with this perspective of forgiveness in mind.  

Don’t get me wrong; forgiveness is a high calling and many times easier said than done.  Particularly, in the light of Jesus’ readiness to ask the Father to forgive those who were crucifying him because “they did not know what they were doing” (Luke 23:34). But having a rhythm of forgiveness in our relationships is accomplishable through the power of the Holy Spirit, not out of our own strength. Yes, God desires a higher calling for us but also provides the spiritual strength to make it happen. How encouraging is that! 

Make it Real

What is easier for you to do: forgive or ask for forgiveness? Personally, I struggle with both! I find it easier to ask for forgiveness from others but forget that I need to ask for God’s forgiveness too.  When it comes to forgiving, many times I can harbor ill feelings even when that person has asked for forgiveness. Emotions can be misleading, but Christ doesn’t call us to forgive because we “feel” like it.  Rather Christ presents it as an integral part of prayer and obedience (Luke 6:12-15).   

Humility can be a posture that fosters forgiveness, yet humility is not considered a virtue in our society and the church often misses this cue too.  Paul notes in Ephesians 4:32 that we should exhibit kindness and tenderheartedness towards one another, in addition to forgiveness.  They’re not emotional responses but outpouring results of a changed heart.   

Tenderheartedness is showing compassion or pity toward those who wrong us, by seeking to understand their perspective or reasoning behind the trespass. This is crucial in our modern day where social media and the internet are tools used to lash out and “get back” at someone. The world seems to say, “Don’t admit you’re wrong, because then you will have to lie when you say you’re sorry”. God says, “admit you’re wrong and allow my grace and forgiveness to flow through you, not because you deserve it but because Christ’s sacrifice does”. 

Who is that someone today who needs your forgiveness? Who is that someone you need to ask for forgiveness? When was the last time you took a posture of humility and asked for forgiveness from your heavenly Father?  

Danny Venhaus

Danny Venhaus

ACF Devo Team

End in Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Thank you first and foremost for forgiveness at the cross, sacrificing your son Jesus so that we may have new life in Him.  We humbly acknowledge that we don’t deserve it yet ask that you give us clarity in our daily walk to root out unforgiveness in our hearts, in our relationships, and in your church. May we be beacons to those around us who desire to know true forgiveness as only you can provide. Amen  

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