READ: Ephesians 4 (Focus vs. 22–32)
MEMORY VERSE
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
BACKGROUND
My sister and I clashed frequently when we were younger, but one time especially stands out in my memory. After a bout of yelling back and forth where we’d both said hurtful things, she said something that in the moment seemed unforgivable.
Witnessing the animosity growing between us, my grandmother reminded us of our responsibility to love each other: “God gave you one sister in life.
You’ve got to show each other a little grace,” she said. When we asked God to fill us with love and understanding, He helped us acknowledge how we’d hurt each other and to forgive one another.
It can be so easy to hold on to bitterness and anger, but God desires for us to experience the peace that can only come when we ask Him to help us release feelings of resentment (Ephesians 4:31).
Instead of harboring these feelings, we can look to Christ’s example of forgiveness that comes from a place of love and grace, striving to be “kind and compassionate” and to “[forgive] each other, just as in Christ God forgave [us]” (v. 32).
When we find it challenging to forgive, may we consider the grace that He extends to us each day. No matter how many times we fall short, His compassion never fails (Lamentations 3:22).
God can help us remove bitterness from our hearts, so we’re free to remain hopeful and receptive to His love.
By: Kimya Loder
INSIGHT
There’s some debate among scholars as to the actual destination of the letter of Ephesians.
In Ephesians 1:1, the words “in Ephesus” are absent in several ancient manuscripts—causing some to view this as an “encyclical letter”—a letter that was to be circulated among the various church gatherings in Asia Minor.
Adding to this theory is that Paul addresses no individuals, which seems unusual, especially compared to Romans 16, where he mentions no less than twenty-six people by name while also referring to many others in that congregation.
Many scholars, however, hold to the church at Ephesus as being the proper first destination, with the letter to be circulated to other churches from there. The circular nature of the letter perhaps explains its lack of personal address.
By: Bill Crowder
APPLICATION
When has someone hurt you? What did you learn from that moment?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“The ones who hurt you most need you most” (Adapted) Jack Hyles
“A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire” Proverbs 15:1 (The Message)
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“When we find it challenging to forgive, may we consider the grace that He extends to us each day.”
PRAYER
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the people You’ve placed in my life. Help me to have a loving and forgiving spirit.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“FORGIVENESS” Matthew West
It’s the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those who don’t deserve
It’s the opposite of how you feel
When they pain they caused is just too real
Takes everything you have to say the word
Forgiveness, forgiveness
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always anger’s own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you’ve got a right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying set it free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness
It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what its power can do
So let it go and be amazed by,
What you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness
I want finally set it free
Show me how to see what your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
I Samuel 27-29
Luke 13: 1-22
