Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

“Be kind. Rewind.” When I worked at Blockbuster video, this was the message on all the video tapes that I stocked. Invariably people would forget to rewind their videotapes before they returned them. After a while blockbuster bought high-speed rewinders. It seems like I spent half my time working there rewinding videotapes.

Maybe this was one of the first pay-it-forward movements, showing kindness to others we don’t know. Nowadays, people buy coffee for the people behind them in line to do the same thing. Kindness involves putting the needs of others above our own; it involves a sacrifice on our part to give to someone else.

When we walk in love as Jesus loves us, we act in kindness. Kindness leads to having a tender heart. People who are tender-hearted listen to the challenges and troubles of others and try to lend a comforting word and a helping hand. They care. And because they care, many see the love of Christ through them.

Forgiveness is very difficult, especially when a lot of hurt and pain have happened over many years. But it is possible, because we love Jesus and Jesus first forgave us. I have been asked how I could forgive so-and-so. And my response is: “I can’t, but the God I serve, who works in my heart, enables me to do things that are impossible for me to do on my own.”

When we give up 1) our rights, 2) our bitterness and anger due to pain and suffering that others cost us, and 3) our selfish ambitions and personal goals, we lay all of these things at the feet of Jesus; it is then that we can truly love like Jesus loved.

To love like Jesus involves sacrifice. But as we see in this passage, it also is a fragrant aroma that is pleasing to God. So our goal on earth is to imitate Jesus, to be like him in as many ways as possible. To grow in his grace, to develop a tender heart, and to love deeply, like the waves that break over walls of rock and turn them into sand.

The love of Christ is persistent. It is relentless. It never backs down, it never stops. It never takes no for an answer. It always perseveres, even in the toughest of situations.

Lord Jesus, teach me to love like you love. Show me the way you want to impact the lives of many with the love of Christ.