When We Hurt Someone!
" Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Many times in our lives, we are going to be hurt by someone, or we will hurt someone. This hurt will come about not just by our behavior, but by our words. There are times when words can be worse than a slap in the face. I don't know about you, but it seems that we are really getting ugly towards one another. In our text, the apostle Paul instructs the Christian's at Ephesus, to deal with the problem of causing hurt in our relationships in two ways.
1. There are some negative behavior we need to get rid of.
I don't feel we need to define this behavior, such as "bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, along with every form of malice." We see this negative behavior all the time in various areas of our society. We may have been, or are involved in in this type of behavior right now. Paul says that we as Christians need to get rid of it. There is to be no place for this type of behavior in the Christian life. It is not to be seen in the church at all. The devil wants it's to always be a fight. And fight we will. This list of negative behavior leads one down a path of division and destruction. It is a tearing down of character, trust, and unity.
I don't feel we need to define this behavior, such as "bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, along with every form of malice." We see this negative behavior all the time in various areas of our society. We may have been, or are involved in in this type of behavior right now. Paul says that we as Christians need to get rid of it. There is to be no place for this type of behavior in the Christian life. It is not to be seen in the church at all. The devil wants it's to always be a fight. And fight we will. This list of negative behavior leads one down a path of division and destruction. It is a tearing down of character, trust, and unity.
2. There are attitudes and actions that need to be maintained.
We are to be "kind, and compassionate to one another." We are to forgive one another, just as In Christ, God forgave you." These are building blocks to solid relationships. Forgiven people ought to forgive people. The greatest gift God gave us is Love. (1 Cor.13:13). Shouldn't we be giving love as well? We will be hurt by people. (Forgive) We will hurt people. (Be kind, compassionate) How can we make our world a better place? This is where it's at! GP
1. Do you think it is possible to get through this life without being hurt? Or by not hurting others?
We are to be "kind, and compassionate to one another." We are to forgive one another, just as In Christ, God forgave you." These are building blocks to solid relationships. Forgiven people ought to forgive people. The greatest gift God gave us is Love. (1 Cor.13:13). Shouldn't we be giving love as well? We will be hurt by people. (Forgive) We will hurt people. (Be kind, compassionate) How can we make our world a better place? This is where it's at! GP
1. Do you think it is possible to get through this life without being hurt? Or by not hurting others?
2. Why does the apostle Paul emphasize that we must totally get rid of the negative attitudes and actions in our relationships?
3. How does maintaining the positive attitudes, and actions the apostle Paul mentions, work to develop solid relationships?
3. How does maintaining the positive attitudes, and actions the apostle Paul mentions, work to develop solid relationships?
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