How healthy are your relationships? Whether, those relationships are with a spouse, another family member, a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker or fellow student, even a church member, are they healthy? Paul gives us some vital signs to check in Ephesians 4:30-32 that register our relational fitness.
1. RELATIONAL COMMITMENT IS PRACTICED. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (v.30). There are many ways we can grieve the Holy Spirit. A chief way is through our lack of commitment to those we love. He has sealed us—that is the Spirit has come into the believer as a guarantee of salvation, and He has promised to be ever-present. When we walk away from a relationship because it is difficult, He is broken-hearted, for He will never do that!
2. RELATIONAL CANCERS ARE REMOVED. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” (v.31). If you are diagnosed with cancer, and the surgeon puts you under anesthesia and under the knife, the first question you will have for the doctor when you awake is, “Did you get it all?” You know if any cancer remains, it will recur. Paul tells us to get rid of all relational malignancies. These things will kill a relationship!
3. REAL COMPASSION IS EXERCISED. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (v.32). Real compassion means I do acts of kindness toward others. It is felt in how I am tenderhearted toward others. Essentially, it is given in how I forgive others. In this, I follow the example of my Lord. Surely, if He has forgiven me so much, then I can forgive others who have done less in comparison! Read the story Jesus told in Matt.18:21-35. We will study that later this week.
How did your relational vitals read?
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