“Tenderness is meant to define the whole of our lives and interactions with anyone we meet.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 4, 2024
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV
In the 1960s, Otis Redding sentimentally crooned his way into the hearts of a generation, reminding young men who might be tempted to seek love by force or coercion to instead “try a little tenderness.” As his timeless hit assured them, “You won’t regret it.” And while these words are a guiding light that can lead a man to a woman’s heart, they are, in truth, a reminder that the way of tenderness is meant to define the whole of our lives and interactions with anyone we meet.
As St. Paul exhorted the Christian community in Ephesus, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” The Greek word used here for “tenderhearted” can also be translated as “compassionate,” and I find this to be a helpful window into the nature of true tenderness. Yes, in part, it is a gentle disposition that is never forceful or abusive. However, tenderness is not just the absence of something but is also the very real presence of a compassionate heart of love that sees the needs of others.
Tender compassion strives to see every single person, not simply those we naturally love or are drawn to, but even – and perhaps especially – learning to see our enemies as those who are beloved by God and made in his image. A truly tender life responds to hatred with love and disrespect with a desire to understand.
Of course, this is no easy task! And left to ourselves, we will fail time and time again to see others in this way and to extend a tender and compassionate heart to them. However, as we are again reminded in today’s verse, our ability to live this kind of life is directly tied to the tender compassion of God shown in the self-giving life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We forgive others because “God in Christ” has forgiven us, and we are able to live tender and merciful lives, even in the most difficult situations, because Christ loved us when we were unworthy of the tender compassion he so richly shared.
Prayer
Father, thank you for your tender compassion and care for us. As we receive your love today, may we in turn approach others with tender and compassionate hearts, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
What does it look like for you to “try a little tenderness” in your home, work, or church community?
Related Reading
Isaiah 40:11; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Peter 3:8-10
Worship Resource
The Sing Team: In Tenderness
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