Summer Fruit Devotion: Kindness Day 2

Kindness Forgives

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 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, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 4:29-5:2

Kindness lets go of offences. We call this forgiveness and it comes from a tender heart. We choose how to react when others sin against us. We can grieve the Holy Spirit and fuel the fire of bitterness and anger in our hearts by repeating the sins of others over and over in our minds. We can make them pay by withholding our love and kindness. Or we can pour Christ’s love like water over that fire and just let these things go. When we see how Christ took the punishment for sin we can realize we don’t have to punish each other any more. God forgives us in Christ, in love and kindness, and when we let the Spirit make our hearts tender we can be kind by forgiving one another in Christ. Forgiveness is not just letting someone “off the hook” for their sin, but it is turning them over to God and letting him be the rightful judge. It is his kindness that will lead them to repentance, not our bitterness.

Journal time. Forgiveness is a sacrifice. It costs love. Bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness are like sour pennies piling up in our guts and weighing us down, but kind, tenderhearted forgiveness is like cashing in those pennies for a clean slate. Who do you need to give a clean slate to? Who do you need to forgive?

Pray with me today. Heavenly Father, we are in awe of your sacrificial, tenderhearted love and forgiveness for us. Help us to walk in love and kindness because we are your beloved children. Help us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. We repent of harsh words spoken in anger and bitterness stored in our hearts toward others. Help us to forgive, to let go of anger and instead speak words of grace to build each other up in your kindness and love. In the name of your tenderhearted and forgiving Son, Jesus, we pray, Amen.