December 1, 2014

“...Put Away...Be Kind…”

Blessings folk!

Ephesians 4 concludes with another two-fold command/instruction.
Note what we are to do with sin.
Note the type of sin.
Then, note what we are to do as a pattern of life.

Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Bitterness.
Wrath.
Anger.
Clamor.
Slander.
Malice.
All are to be put away from us.
All. Not just some.
Sadly these are found in abundance among those who profess the Lord.
Such should not be.
Put them away.
This does require action on our part.
It does suggest that these are always “at the door” (Genesis 4) desiring to harm us.
Let it all be put away.

Rather, put on the following.
Be:
Kind to one another.
Tenderhearted.
Forgiving one another...which means there will be opportunities that require forgiveness.
Forgive as God in Christ forgave us.
It is God that is the source of forgiving.
In Christ God forgave us.
In God, through Christ, we forgive one another.