“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

Most of us probably don’t characterize ourselves (or most people we know) as “evil-minded” which is exactly what “every form of malice” signifies in this verse. However, bitterness, rage and anger are all more accepted forms of sin that I know I sometimes fall into. Talking about sin is hard, and identifying your own sin can be even harder. Unfortunately, we have to identify our sin before we are able to get rid of it as this verse commands.

Thank the Lord that Paul gave us an alternative to these sins – kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. When we remember that God has freely given us all of these things, it can be very humbling, but it can also motivate us to consciously show kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to others. I’ll be the first to say it’s not an easy task all the time. It is my prayer that we are all able to put these fruits of the Spirit into practice today. Lord knows the world could use a little more kindness.