. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  -Ephesians 4:32

 

Paul isn't talking about something we should be doing. He's talking about a state of being, a state of continually receiving God's forgiveness through Christ, and being a vessel through which forgiveness passes to another.

 

It's a dynamic thing.  As you are being forgiven, you allow the flow of grace to pass through you into the lives of others. When you are offended you forgive, because you are in a state of being a channel of  forgiveness.

 

Even while you are being offended, you are "being" forgiving. You're not waiting for your spouse to say, "I'm sorry."  You are already giving forgiveness because this is who you are. You are being kind and compassionate and forgiving. Aren't you glad Jesus didn't wait for you to say you were sorry before he hung on the cross for you? He didn't say, "I'll hang on this cross if you'll repent."  He just hung, and offered himself willingly to "whosoever will".

 

Our love and devotion to him is a response to that unconditional love and forgiveness he demonstrated. Our spouses' love and devotion to us will also be a response to the unconditional love we demonstrate as we are being kind and compassionate forgiving each other. It's not what you do; it's who you are being.

 

Question For The Both of Us: Do you feel like I am being kind, compassionate and forgiving?  How do you think I can improve?

Prayer For The Both of Us: Lord help us to be kind and compassionate forgiving one another, just as you forgave us. Let us be vessels through which the river of grace will flow unhindered by our own sin.