As God in Christ | Sicut et Deus

Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you - Ephesians 4: 31-32.

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Reflecting on the pastoral writings of St. Paul in Ephesians 4:17-32. I’m reminded that I’m given a new life in Christ. I'm also reminded how I can reflect more and more of Christlike behaviour, with the help of the Holy Spirit: by showing kindness & being tender-hearted to all who are also created in the image of God. 

In his homily, a newly ordained priest had reminded us that there’s bound to be difficult people who will cross our paths in life. What if these people are permitted by God to mold our characters to be kinder & more patient with one another? In the words of the young priest, what if these people are the very saint-makers whom God has appointed to shape us into His Son’s likeness and help us to stay on the narrow path to our common sainthood, of showing God’s mercy, grace and kindness to all? 

I love the core Salvation Army motto “Heart to God, Hand to Man”. I will close my short sharing with this much-loved hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. 

Verse 1 

What a Friend we have in Jesus, 

All our sins and griefs to bear! 

What a privilege to carry 

Everything to God in prayer! 

O what peace we often forfeit, 

O what needless pain we bear, 

All because we do not carry 

Everything to God in prayer! 

Verse 2 

Have we trials and temptations? 

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged, 

Take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Can we find a friend so faithful 

Who will all our sorrows share? 

Jesus knows our every weakness, 

Take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Verse 3 

Are we weak and heavy-laden, 

Cumbered with a load of care? 

Precious Savior, still our refuge-- 

Take it to the Lord in prayer; 

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? 

Take it to the Lord in prayer; 

In His arms He'll take and shield thee, 

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/TAyaXdvvbGU?si=EJwwuFRMSU0kjjob

Author: Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1855) Public Domain

Reflection on Ephesians 4:17-32 by Chris Tan