“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.”

• The word “all” is a word most of us want to avoid. We tend to try to justify some bitterness, wrath, anger, and slander. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice cannot dwell together with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The negative will be remembered more because more people relate to it. When we relive our hearts of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice, then and only then will we be able to be kind, tender hearted and forgiving. We also tend to want to pick and choose who we should be kind to and who we should forgive. One of our biggest faults is that we desire mercy for ourselves and justice for others. We need to take inventory of our hearts and see what we are storing. Obeying this passage would be a game changer for this world and for each of us personally. If we want to be a light in this dark world, we should eliminate the negatives and exhibit the positives.

• Does kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving describe you?
• Are you willing to change to be more like Christ?

Dear Lord, we praise your name for not giving us what we deserve but instead, offering forgiveness and reconciliation! Forgive us for being unforgiving to others and please change our hearts to be Christlike in all situations and circumstances. We praise You for sending Jesus, not only to save us but also to show us how to live. Amen