“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

The very essence of the gospel of grace is divine tenderness. Without tenderness and gentleness of spirit even the most strict religious life is a misrepresentation of the true Christ-life. Tenderness of Spirit is preeminently divine. It is the fountain of God’s love within. True, Christlike tenderness overflows all mental faculties, saturating with its own sweetness and manners, expressions, words, and tone of voice. It mellows the will, softens the judgments, melts the affections, refines the manners, and molds the whole being after the image of Him who was meek and lowly in spirit. It cannot be borrowed or put on for special occasions.

Jesus, source of our salvation, may we now Thy nature know;
Then more kindness and compassion we to Thy dear saints shall show.
May the grace Thou hast imparted, in relieving our complaints,
Make us kind and tenderhearted to the feeblest of Thy saints.