Ephesians 4:31-32

Verse of the Day: Ephesians 4:31-32

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32 

When you observe what is going on in the world, what do you see?  I see a very angry and vicious people.  Now, I want to say that is not everyone I see; however, people are becoming more intolerant as the days go by.  It used to be that if two people disagreed, they would either walk away, or agree to disagree.  Now, violence seems to be the outcome of more and more meetings of individuals or groups where they do not see eye to eye.

Paul is telling the Ephesians this should not be the case with Christians.  We may disagree in areas, but we must not allow this to break into bitterness and anger simply because we do not agree with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  If we do, how are we different than the world?  And how can we preach love and peace to the world when we do not practice it ourselves?  We should set the example we see in verse 32 of being kind and tender-hearted to everyone, not being angry and talking bad of another person no matter what has happened.

This way, we are following the command to love everyone and shining a light into the darkness that the world will see and be attracted to.  They will see Christ in us.  What a beautiful picture for all to enjoy.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Ephesians 4:32

Verse of the Day: Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32 

In this section Paul is giving some thoughts on the new life in the spirit.  This verse addresses how we should be around our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are to be loving and kind.

There are going to be times when our fellow Christians are going to disappoint us.  I have seen so many instances where there is arguing (not debating but fighting), demeaning and taking advantage of one another, just plain treating each other wrongly.

Where is the love in that?  Jesus commanded this of us.  John 13:34 says, ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  Note, this is not a suggestion.  We are required to love just as He loves us.  He loves everyone, including the those who are against Him.  This does not mean He did not admonish some, like the Jewish leadership.  However, like with the brethren, His love was unquestionable.  In fact, in fact, a few times it led to tears.  I think what we see here is that disagreements should not lead to anger.  It should lead to a friendly learning experience where all can come to the truth.

If a brother or sister offends us in any way, forgiveness should be the outcome.  We should never hold a grudge but should strive for reconciliation.  There should be nothing that separates us.  We are the body of Christ.  Therefore, we should act as Christ did.  This will bring the unity God has called for and will bring glory to God through the ‘true’ love we show everyone.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

1 Corinthians 13:4

Verse of the Day Devotion: 1 Corinthians 13:4 

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,” – 1 Corinthians 13:4

Over the next five days, I will be Looking at 1 Corinthians 13 and how Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, describes what  true love actually is.  This is important as we see the world going away from what love while focusing more on themselves.  We, as Christians need to be a light in this world, showing what God wants His people to be like.  And in exhibiting what love really is, we may cause many who see it to desire becoming a child of God because of it.

This verse starts by declaring that love is patient.  In other words, love for our fellow man, saved or not, is extremely patient toward them.  It suffers all the weaknesses and ignorance, errors and infirmities of the children of God.  It endeavors to work in whatever way necessary to be a help in all times of trial.  It does not get frustrated. It does what is necessary in order to guide our brothers and sisters into all truth, helping them walk in the ways God desires us all to walk.  Remember, we all have a history, things that have happened to us that shape the way we react to things.  It is important that we work through them, both in ourselves as well as with others, so that we can all grow in God. 

Regarding those of this world, we must patiently work through all the anger, malice and wickedness in order to draw them to listen to the truth and help them make the decision to accept Christ.  No matter what they do, no matter what they say, no matter how they may ridicule us, we must continue to love them: desiring they come to the knowledge of the truth.  To give up on the unsaved is not showing love for them.  We may need to take a break, but we should never give up.

And along with the above, we are to be kind to all people. The word translated kind has the idea of tenderness and compassion.  It is mild-tempered, gentle and benign.  And, as the theologian Adam Clarke puts it, “if called to suffer, inspires the sufferer with the most amiable sweetness, and the most tender affection.”  This can be difficult to do, but it can be done.  God can help us to have such a love for them that whatever they do, we still want what is best for them, that being salvation and God living in them.

Also, it is not jealous of what another has.  It is not grieved simply because they have a greater portion of something good or has something we have always wanted but have never attained.  We should be happy for them, knowing that God will always supply us with everything we need.  And it does not brag about anything, but is humble, looking at others more highly that it looks at itself.   This is the truest picture of love, one that sees ourselves as ministers to all.  Not through pride and arrogance, but letting everyone know that they are, if not more, important then we are. 

I encourage us all  to pray that God will give us this type of love for everyone who we come across.  This is the love Christ had for us, and this should and must be the love we have for others.  God will give it to us, we just need to seek it with all our hearts, and then walk whereby people see our love and is drawn to Him.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Ephesians 4:32

Verse of the Day Devotion: Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32

This last verse in chapter four of Ephesians is extremely critical when it comes to not grieving the Holy Spirit, because this is critical in displaying how we are to treat others.  Verses 26 through 31 deal with what we are not to do.  We are not to sin in our anger, steal from others, speak unwholesome words, as well as being bitter, slanderous, and filled with malice.  Paul ends this chapter by giving several positive things we need always to endeavor to do.

We are to be kind and tender-hearted to each other.  We are to be courteous and polite to all we meet and interact with.  True Christianity does not make us rough, crabby, or sour.  Neither does it make its followers violate the proper rules of social contact.  Our goal should be to make others happy by being kind to others.  There is nothing in Christianity that speaks of being foul tempered, rude, repulsive or in anyway negative.  First of all, why would anyone want us around if we are?  All we do is damage possibilities to minister to them in their lives.  And if we are interacting with an unbeliever, there is always the possibility of destroying the chance to lead them to Christ.  Also, we are not to hold a grudge against anyone.  Paul in his letter to the Colossians says it this way.  “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Colossians 3:12-14. 

God has called us to be compassionate to all people, just as God was compassionate toward us.  In the book of Romans we read, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.  We all have sinned, there is no one, except Christ Himself who has been or is perfect.  We all have wronged God.  However, what did God do?  He sent His son into the world to pay the penalty for our sins.  He paid the price we could not pay.  And through the death of His Son on the Cross, we have forgiveness.  All we have to do is accept it by accepting the work done on the cross and giving our lives to Him.  And we need to forgive all those who have wronged us, just as He has offered forgiveness to us because we wronged Him. 

It is important that we show the same love God showed us to all others we come across.  What better picture of love can we show to everyone we meet.  We may be surprised just how incredible our lives will become as we imitate Christ in the love He shared to this world.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.