FOR CHRIST'S SAKE

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

For some reason that verse, and especially that word "tenderhearted" has been running through my mind all morning. 

I investigated the word and it means what it seems like it means.  Having a tender, soft, merciful heart toward other Christians. It should have seemed unnecessary for Paul to have to remind the people whose Leader pointedly commanded them to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.. that... uh... well.. He MEANT what He said about the whole LOVE ONE ANOTHER THING.  It should seem obvious that The Forgiven should be the first ones to tenderheartedly forgive.

He was also reminding them.. in case they had forgotten... that it wasn't because they were worthy of being forgiven.. or deserved God's mercy... or because they had been chosen and predestined from the foundation of the world to be God's child...

but it was 

FOR CHRIST'S SAKE

that God chose (and chooses) to forgive us.  

Live. Give. Forgive. Love.
For Christ's sake.

If that's reason enough for God to forgive....who are we to think it is NOT reason enough?

XO,
Love