A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

LIVING THE NEW LIFE – PART II   

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” 

Today’s devotional verse counter balances yesterday’s. Yesterday Paul told you to “get rid of” and today he tells you what you should do. He calls you to a dramatic, dynamic new way of living. He says here in Ephesians 4:31-32 to get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice and to replace them with kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.   

Normally, the Greek word Paul used here in verse 32 for kind and compassionate was reserved to describe these qualities in God. Because you are connected by God’s grace through faith to Jesus, you possess these qualities as well. These qualities flow from the undeserved love with which God has loved you. Therefore, your love and compassion for others flows out of the love and compassion you have received from God. Note the words of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

Through the kindness and compassion of God He enables you to live out the prayer Jesus taught you, “ . . . and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass again us. . .” Luther says that this means, “ that He (Our Father in heaven) would give them (the things for which we pray) by grace. . .so we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.” (Small Catechism, Fifth Petition, What does this mean?) 

Again, your kindness, loving your neighbor, and forgiving those who sin against you, God moves you to do, by first forgiving, first having compassion, and first pouring out His grace upon you. The Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul to write, “Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)  

Prayer: Grant me, O Lord, a heart of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

O Holy Spirit, grant us grace That we our Lord and Savior
In faith and fervent love embrace And truly serve Him ever.
The hour of death cannot bring loss When we are sheltered
By the cross That canceled our transgressions. 

Help us that we Thy saving Worde In faithful hearts may treasure;
Let e’er that Bread of Life afford New grace in richest measure.
O make us die in ev’ry sin, Each day create new life within,
That fruits of faith may flourish. 

And when our earthly race is run, Death’s bitter hour impending,
Then may Thy work in us begun Continue till life’s ending,
Until we gladly may commend Our souls into our Savior’s hand,
The crown of life obtaining.   (LSB 693)