Good Fruit

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:32

    Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another (Rom 12:10). But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another (1 Thes 4:9). Let brotherly love continue (Heb 13:1).

    Love, kindness, tenderness, forgiveness, longsuffering, and generosity are God-given virtues of his people toward each other. So much so that it is said; We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death (1 Jn 3:14).

    God’s people seek peace and are willing to sacrifice for it. The sheep of Christ are not rude and haughty, preferring themselves over others. They are humbled before God, and before each other, as Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death for us. God works the same in each of his children, from the pastor in the pulpit to the youngest believer. This is the work of the almighty Spirit of grace.

    To hold grudges, malice, and to be unkind to a brother or sister, is not the disposition of one whom Christ has forgiven and accepted in love. Being cold toward and ignoring anyone (especially a member of the body of Christ) is not a virtue of one that walks with God. Jealousy and envy cannot be named among those whom God has taught by experience that we too are full of sin and mistakes in this flesh. When these feelings arise in our hearts, we are immediately driven to our knees at the feet of him who has forgiven us, and again we must ask for forgiveness.

    May God help us to begin this year with new commitment to him and to each other, as we are members one of another in the body of Christ. May we make a special effort to show forth the love of God in word and in deed to all the brethren, to the glory God.

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently (1 Pt 1:22).