"Be kind to one another!"

At last, after a long break, this blogger is returning! My desire as I write again is to encourage mums and dads everywhere, and maybe, on occasion, a grandparent or two as well!

I was reading this morning in Ephesians 4, and want to share 2 verses with you:

Eph 4:24
.... and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

I believe that our family units represent "the Kingdom of God in miniature" and "the Body of Christ in nucleus"! Can you work that out?

The epistles are written to the family of God, the Church of Jesus Christ, and therefore I believe apply to us within our family groupings first and foremost.How exciting to read an epistle, reading each part as for our own family. For example, turn to Ephesians1 now and read the first three verses. Instead of "the saints who are at Ephesus", put in your home address! And speak out these verses of grace, peace and blessing to your family. Wow!

Eph 1:1-3
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ ..... "

Now back to the verses at the top of this post. When we take these scriptures into our hearts, then feelings of failure and guilt and condemnation can go out of the door! Why? Surely, this scripture could make me feel even worse? I have not been kind, or I argued with my husband, and got annoyed with the kids! But LOOK - just LOOK at verse 24 - your new man/woman was created in what? In continual striving to be right? In working to please God? In works of 
self-righteousness? NO! 

No, "according to God, in true righteousness and holiness"!  You are a NEW creation in Christ Jesus! The only "true" righteousness is Jesus Christ Himself. Our very best efforts will never make it! So stop trying - lean on Jesus - ask Him to clothe you and be your all in all!

2 Cor 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Is it by any work you have done? No. It is through the work Jesus did for you on the Cross, and through His resurrection life. It is about Who He is.  Never what you do. 

So today, begin to look at HIS righteousness and look at Jesus! When God looks at you, He sees not what you used to be - or your latest failure - He sees JESUS! To be kind and tender-hearted and gentle is Christ's nature, and He will bring that about in us as we look at HIM.

He is the One to transform our families into refuges of love, joy, peace and hope. Your children will mess up at times, we parents definitely get it wrong often - but Jesus! He does not stand there pointing out our faults - but holding out His hands to help and strengthen and give us HIS life!