Be Nice

                                            

                                 May 13, 2018

(Before I give my thoughts, I would like to honor our daughter, Gillian Holladay Lopez, who went to Heaven on May 11, 2017. She was a wonderful wife and mother to her husband Ralph and their son Kai. Thank you for your prayers.)

Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

“Be nice” - If my dear mother said that once, she said it a thousand times. AND

guess what???? I did the same thing with my son and daughter. In fact, Brant and I spent six months taking a church in Fiji. One of the projects I had there was to stitch quotes for our children. And my mom and I both loved to quote Ephesians 4:32. Such a practical, powerful verse!

What an honor to get to “blog” on Mother’s Day! If this blog were to be totally about my mother, and I told you why so many loved that little lady, you would be excited to meet her in Heaven. She was so much fun, so kind, thoughtful, compassionate, unselfish...

BUT she would say: “Sis, talk about the Lord Jesus.” She would tell you that the verse - Ephesians 4:32 - is NOT an option. “Be kind (be nice), be tenderhearted (be compassionate), forgive others as God did because of Jesus.” Those are not choices but “musts” for Christians who wants to please the Lord.

HOW can we consistently “show” all these remarkable traits? Just look right down from Ephesians 4:32 to the next chapter...Ephesians 5. Read the whole chapter sometime. For now, we will use just a few ideas to help us to “be nice.”

Ephesians 5:1 - Follow God’s example. Study His Word to learn about His character.

                 5:2 - Walk in love as Christ loved us. BUT HOW can we do that? Study the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) for many examples of how Christ walked in love towards so many different people.

                5:8 - Realize you are no longer in darkness but are children of light. Shine for the Lord. Kindness is a way to shine.

                  5:15/18 - Walk circumspectly (I loved to teach Latin...the etymology of this word: “circum” = around/”spectare” = to watch or look), be alert, be careful to use God’s Word and His Holy Spirit to help you to walk the right way.

                  5:19/20 - Be joyful in the Lord. Joy is contagious! Some wise person said:

“Life is too short to live as a grouch.”

Have you memorized this verse?

Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

If not, d o it soon. It will help you to “be nice.”

--Maylou Holladay