Ephesians 4:30-32

This is the Christian walk at its best.  Following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, as the scripture says He forgave you and I for all our sinful nature.  Not just for something we may have said to someone but for everything we have done that is displeasing to Him.  And we are to follow Him and be forgiving to others.  Today as I have prayerfully studied this scripture, I was quickly reminded of something that had taken place just last week in my life.  I watched a dear friend die.  I knew as they took him off the ambulance while medical technicians worked hard to revive my friend, he was gone.  As I watched my mind drifted to the many years we have known each other.  Some really good times and some not so good.  We have been apart for a few months lately but we reconnected last month through email.  I am glad that we did.  My first words written to my friend were words of forgiveness as I had become aware of situation and had not been there for him.  His response, "brother, we have no problems", you see that is forgiving one another in action.  Then my friend said, "we will always be brothers, never to change based on time, distance or circumstances."  The friend was a long time firemen. 

The purpose of telling this story is we Christians need to be more forgiving of one another.  Speaking about others with malice, bitter words should not even be a part of the Christian vocabulary.  When we feel a need to talk about others, invite the other person into the conversation.  And then Christians we must set the example and be kind to one another, tender hearted and forgiving.  My friend the firemen, we always were not tender hearted to one another, sometimes bitter and angry words would be spoken, and to hear the words, no problem here my brother.  Tender words from the heart, forgiving as God has forgiven us.  Thank You Lord Jesus.