Comments on: Ephesians 4 (NIV) http://findinggrace.com/blog/2008/01/17/ephesians-4/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:42:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Kywanna http://findinggrace.com/blog/2008/01/17/ephesians-4/#comment-1116 Kywanna Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:42:04 +0000 http://findinggrace.com/blog/2008/01/18/ephesians-4/#comment-1116 Isn't Jesus wonderful? While reading the Gospels and looking at all of the stories He told, I marveled at His knowledge. He has, and is, the answer to every question. :) Though I must say, if I talked to people about how they should be kind to one another, and realize the importance of their words (how they can be both our damnation and salvation), they would probably just roll their eyes. It's these bits of knowledge, however, that seem like common sense that I often have to remind myself of...daily. Dealing with unpleasant people all day at work, it would have been easy to be just as unpleasant right back, but I don't want people to associate my being a Christ follower with my lack of smiles. So, aching feet and all, I smiled and told the people I helped that I hoped they had a nice day; knowing that I couldn't seek forgiveness from my Father if I was unwilling to forgive the rude people I encountered that day. Isn’t Jesus wonderful? While reading the Gospels and looking at all of the stories He told, I marveled at His knowledge. He has, and is, the answer to every question. :)

Though I must say, if I talked to people about how they should be kind to one another, and realize the importance of their words (how they can be both our damnation and salvation), they would probably just roll their eyes.

It’s these bits of knowledge, however, that seem like common sense that I often have to remind myself of…daily. Dealing with unpleasant people all day at work, it would have been easy to be just as unpleasant right back, but I don’t want people to associate my being a Christ follower with my lack of smiles. So, aching feet and all, I smiled and told the people I helped that I hoped they had a nice day; knowing that I couldn’t seek forgiveness from my Father if I was unwilling to forgive the rude people I encountered that day.

]]> By: Debbie http://findinggrace.com/blog/2008/01/17/ephesians-4/#comment-1103 Debbie Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:17:32 +0000 http://findinggrace.com/blog/2008/01/18/ephesians-4/#comment-1103 Initially, in this passage, we are instructed to be "completely humble and gentle, patient...etc." At the end of this passage, we are instructed to "be kind, compassionate, and forgiving." God cares so much who we are at our core...and how we treat each other in the body of Christ. He gifts us and instructs us to be new people .... so we can lead more people to His saving grace. I love passages like this because they bring me back to the deep understanding that it's not about me, but about Jesus and His patient and loving and just, yet forgiving, nature that offers the only solution. Initially, in this passage, we are instructed to be “completely humble and gentle, patient…etc.” At the end of this passage, we are instructed to “be kind, compassionate, and forgiving.” God cares so much who we are at our core…and how we treat each other in the body of Christ. He gifts us and instructs us to be new people …. so we can lead more people to His saving grace.

I love passages like this because they bring me back to the deep understanding that it’s not about me, but about Jesus and His patient and loving and just, yet forgiving, nature that offers the only solution.

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