Getting Your Bearings (in kindness and forgiveness)

Forgiveness and kindness. These are qualities that we all strive to have, yet sometimes it’s hard to forgive and be kind to one another. Scripture says,

Colossians 3:12-13

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.”

So in other words, because God has forgiven us of our sin when Jesus was sacrificed on the cross, essentially forgiveness, we should forgive others when we stir up strife with them. Look at that italicized phrase, “bearing with one another”. Bearing with one another means, although it may seem tough to even be in the same room with someone who you are mad at, you need to bear with them. Think of the phrase “bear with me”, which means to request patience. And of course this falls completely in-line with what Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”

‘Love your neighbor as yourself’; although it sounds cliché, it’s true. Also called the “Golden Rule” (treat others how you would like to be treated).

And one last verse for encouragement.

1 John 15:1

“If you love me, you will obey what I command”

My youth group had a session on this today, and I thought I’d sum it up and share it with everyone!