Expect Kindness

Expect Kindness [and give kindness]
~by David Jeremiah from Hope for Today

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:17-32
Focus verse: "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32

Counselors sometimes suggest that a sure way to avoid disappointment is to avoid expectations.  Married couples are sometimes told if they expect nothing from a spouse, they will not be disappointed if they receive nothing.  That is a sad way to approach life.

Often, we confuse expectations with rights, especially in marriage.  Some claim "It is my right to be loved and understood by my spouse."  Demanding rights can be problematic.  But are expectations in marriage wrong?  When we follow Paul's lead, comparing marriage to Christ and His Church, it would seem not (Ephesians 5: 22-33)  Do we as the Bride of Christ have expectations of Christ?  Yes, and He is always faithful.  Does Christ have expectations of us, His Bride - expectations of love, loyalty, obedience, service, and more?  Yes, and whyle we sometimes disappoint Him, expectations remain.

As the Bride of Christ, we should be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another as Christ is toward us (Ephesians 4:32).  Don't disappoint Him.  Be kind to each other - He expects it.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; Colossians 3:12

More on marriage:
^{Ephesians 5:22} Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. ²⁴ Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body,^[a] of His flesh and of His bones. ³¹ “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”^{[b] 32} This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.