One Another Series - Be Kind and Compassionate to One Another

 This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders. This year, in these podcasts, I am focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

Our verse for today’s podcast is once again from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In chapter 4, verse 32, in the New International Version we read “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” The Message paraphrase adds further description. “Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”

In this brief verse, Paul gives three admonitions and instruction how we can live out this command.

1. “Be kind” – According to Galatians 5:22, “Kindness” is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As the Holy Spirit’s presence in our life grows – and as we increasingly yield to His direction – it is inevitable that our level of kindness to others will increase. This is a work of the Spirit combined with the yielding of our will to Him. As we are “conformed to the image of Christ,” (Romans 8:29), we become able to “make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.” Our conversation with one another becomes uplifting and encouraging.

2. “Be compassionate” – One dictionary defines compassion as a “sympathetic consciousness of others; distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” Compassion goes far beyond pity. A compassionate response to others not only sees their need; it also manifests a desire to alleviate the circumstances that are troubling them. In the body of Christ, as we interact with one another, we are called to minister to their needs. I encourage you to do a study on the life of Jesus when it is recorded that He had compassion for people. In nearly every instance, scripture demonstrates that He took action … and so should we.

3. “Forgive one another” – Sometimes this is much easier said than done. I like the way this is expressed in the Message. “Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” We are to forgive one another “quickly.” If we fail to do this, if we choose to hang on to an offense, bitterness can take root in our lives, and the relationship will suffer damage. We are also to forgive one another “thoroughly just as God in Christ forgave you.” One author says this, “Forgiveness reflects the character of God, and we are most like God when we forgive those who offend us.” May we as leaders set the example in these things.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.