Kindness and tenderheartedness are two qualities one would not normally use to describe a warrior. Yet a warrior’s life is not entirely about fighting wars. Warriors have families, fellow warriors, and other friends with whom they interact daily—and who are not enemies to be treated harshly. Rather, these people need to be treated as loved ones and close friends, people the warrior can trust.
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32, NKJV).
That doesn’t mean that because we forgive or are kind to others we are soft. Far from it! Jesus Christ was not soft. He was tough on those who refused to believe, but He was compassionate toward the needy and a friend to those who needed a friend. When we look deep inside and remember what He has forgiven us of—the sins and spiritual stagnation—we can act as Christ acted toward us, with kindness and compassion.
So permit yourselves and those you love and care for to love and be loved, to forgive and be forgiven, calling on God for the strength to be kind and tenderhearted, the way Jesus is to us.
The content of this article comes from “The Warrior’s Bible” (2014) and is copyrighted by Life Publishers International. Used with permission.
