8月13日
标 题：有恩慈
经 节：并要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。（以弗所书四章32节）
以弗所书说明的行为，应该可以描绘出基督徒彼此相交的特性。我们的行为应该要有恩慈。恩慈是以实际的方式表达爱，是考虑别人的需要高过自己的需要。恩慈是用心思考如何满足他人的需要。
拥有温柔的心，表示我们能够敏锐地得知其他人的感受。当主内弟兄姊妹悲痛时，我们的心也跟着悲痛（哥林多前书十二：26）。当另一位主内弟兄姊妹快乐时，我们也快乐。拥有温柔的心，表示我们对周遭的人热情洋溢。
我们能够饶恕人，因为我们也没有达到神完美的理想。当有人冒犯我们，我们愿意原谅人，因为我们知道神已满有恩慈地，把我们由毁灭中拯救出来。比起对待非基督徒，我们通常对自己主内的肢体更没耐心。我们对基督徒期望较高，当他们有负于我们，我们觉得自己被出卖。发生这种事的时候，我们更要靠近十字架，并且回想自己在那儿所得到的赦免。我们一定要停止自义的态度，不然，会变得没耐性及好批评。
耶稣并没有说世人会因我们行神迹、作震撼人心的见证，或因我们广博的圣经知识而认识祂。世人是因基督徒之间彼此相爱的心，而认识祂（约翰福音十三：35）。你是否经常与人发生冲突？你当求神赐给你恩慈、一颗温柔的心，和饶恕的灵。当容许圣灵在你的身上创建这些特质，你的生命会成为周围所有人的祝福。
Showing Grace
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
The Book of Ephesians describes the behavior that ought to characterize Christians as they relate to one another. Our actions ought to be permeated with kindness. Kindness is love expressed in practical ways; it is putting the needs of others before our own. It is intentionally considering ways to meet other people’s needs. Being tenderhearted means that we are keenly sensitive to the feelings of others. When a fellow Christian experiences sorrow, we grieve also (1 Cor. 12:26). When another believer is joyful, we, too, rejoice. Being tenderhearted means showing compassion toward those around us.
We show forgiveness because we, too, fall short of God’s ideal. Knowing that God has graciously saved us from destruction motivates us to forgive others when they offend us. Often we are less patient with our fellow Christians than we are with nonbelievers. We expect more of Christians, and we feel betrayed when they fail us. When this happens, we need to look closely at the cross and remember the forgiveness we received there. We must set aside the self-centered attitude that leads to impatience and criticism of others.
Jesus did not say that the world will know Him by our miracles, by our grand testimonies, or by our vast Bible knowledge. The world will know Him by the love that Christians show to one another (John 13:35). Are you constantly in conflict with others? Ask God to give you kindness, a tender heart, and a forgiving spirit. As you allow the Spirit to build these qualities into you, your life will be a blessing to others around you.
