Be Kind To One Another

The third item in Paul’s survival message is to forgive each other, & I believe he had a reason for putting this last, because I don't think we can really forgive somebody until we have learned to be kind & compassionate toward them.

ILL. The wife of a Zulu chief happened to attend a meeting of Christians & heard for the very first time in her life about Jesus.

The message of a God who loves us & forgives our sins was something new & wonderful for her to consider. She had never heard of such a God before. And it wasn’t long until she became a Christian, too.

When her husband learned of this he angrily forbade her, on pain of death, ever to attend a Christian meeting again. However, eager to hear more about Jesus, she dared to go, & when her husband found out what she had done he met her on the trail & beat her so savagely that he left her for dead.

But it wasn’t long until curiosity got the better of him & he went back to look for her. She was not on the trail where he had left her. But he did see broken twigs & other signs to indicate where she had crawled away. Following them he finally found her lying under a bush.

Cruelly, he asked, “And just what is your Jesus Christ doing for you now?” She opened her eyes, & looking at him, said gently, “He is helping me to forgive you!” (Adapted from David Yarbrough – SC)

Paul said, "Be kind & compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you"

CONCL. I wonder if we can behave like that today? I wonder this morning if you need the kindness of God, if you need to feel His tender touch?

He understands you. He knows what you think. He knows your worries, your concerns, your disappointments, your joys. And He is anxious to forgive you & forget your sins.

INVITATION

We offer His invitation because we know God is waiting for you to respond to His love. Will you come now as we stand & as we sing?