If you and I fully believed the special status we have in God’s eyes, it would be easier for us to show kindness. The creator, the king of the universe has forgiven us, chosen us, and made us his treasured possessions. We’re rich. People can and do hurt us, but it doesn’t diminish our standing with God. The slights, the insults, the frustrations that others bring cannot change who we are. We have nothing to prove.
The New Testament is full of reminders of how God wants his people to behave. The call of how we’re supposed to live is repeated over and over again. Why so much repetition? Probably because it doesn’t come naturally to most of us, and we’re drowning in a sea of poor examples that at times are very appealing. It helps to be reminded of the new identity we have in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul puts it this way in his letter to the Colossians.
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 must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (Colossians 3:12-14 NAS)
Do we exude pride instead of humility? Are we hard on our family, friends, and associates or do we habitually exhibit gentleness, patience, and forgiveness? Domination, manipulation, coercion, and retaliation are the standard operating tools we see in much of daily life. Their use is tempting because we all want what we want, but they are not right for Christians to employ. The virtues listed in the above passage are qualities we should cultivate in our character.
In preparing this post I reflected on an experience I had with an editor I met over the internet and contracted to edit my book. They delayed and delayed doing the work. When I canceled the project the person attempted to deceive me, and I called out the deception. They never admitted wrongdoing, but to their credit they eventually refunded all my money. Recently, I was at a conference that this person also attended. Since we had never met in person, I don’t know if this editor recognized me. I recognized them and cringed every time our paths crossed. Have I forgiven? Probably not. I have a way to go toward maturity. What would I do if I had to deal with this person daily?
Our improved behavior is a calling, not a magical shift that we have no control over. The change is empowered by the Holy Spirit who has taken up residence inside of us. Let’s cooperate with God and be willing to forgive and love people. As the above passage says, love makes unity possible. This week take note of your own life. Is there anyone you need to forgive or are there steps you need to take to repair a broken relationship?
Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash