Devotion:
For an audio version of this devotion, click here.
Read Ephesians 4:32.
This letter is sometimes referred to as the “queen of the epistles,” because of its beautiful Greek and its wonderful teachings. We think it was a circular letter, written to be circulated around new churches in western Asia Minor (now modern day Turkey). The letter likely ended up in Ephesus, a city in which Paul had ministered for some time. Chapter 4, in which our verse for today is found, is all about how to live together in the local church. This verse tells us to show kindness and compassion to one another, forgiving one another just the way God forgave us.
Willie Nelson had a hit song a few years ago that began with the line, “Forgiving you was easy, but forgettin’ seems to take the longest time.” We believe that when God forgives us, God also forgets our mistakes. This is the kind of forgiveness Paul is calling us to practice in the church. We all make mistakes and need forgiveness for those. Forgiveness that hangs on to the other person’s mistake, brings it up occasionally, and holds it over them is not living the way of Jesus Christ.
Personal Worship Option:
Gracious God, you have forgiven me and continue to forgive me when I make mistakes. Help me to do better and help me to forgive others of their mistakes in a similar way. This is not easy, and I need your help to both forgive and to forget. Amen.
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