Creator, Father, King #297

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

THE HATFIELDS AND THE McCoys are often mentioned in the same breath. But these two nineteenth-century American families hated each other. Sadly, they are infamously known for their long-standing, deadly feud.

The two clans lived across the Tug Fork stream from each other—the McCoys in Kentucky and the Hatfields in West Virginia. The animosity began with the Civil War. Or a stolen pig. It’s hard to tell in these matters. But the real fighting started in 1882 when Ellison Hatfield, a brother of the family patriarch, William “Devil Anse” Hatfield, was shot to death by the McCoys. In revenge, the Hatfields kidnapped and executed three McCoy brothers.

That event exploded into several decades’ worth of all-out backwoods violence and murder. The lawlessness reached a fever pitch in 1888 when a group of Hatfields attacked the home of the rival leader, Randolph McCoy, resulting in more deaths and injuries. Multiple arrests were made, and years of legal actions ensued. The case even made its way to the US Supreme Court. The feuding slowly abated afterward but didn’t fully end until the second decade of the twentieth century.

Boy, the Hatfields and the McCoys certainly could’ve used Ephesians 4:31-32! Here’s what this beautiful passage of Scripture says:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

What’s It Mean?

These words aren’t just for vindictive families! They are vital for all of us.

Bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger create a deceptively destructive spiritual death trap. They don’t suddenly overwhelm you. It’s a gradual process.

Hebrews 12:15 says, “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” That’s certainly what happened with the Hatfields and McCoys. But it can also happen to Christians.

Bitterness acts like an aggressive weed. Once it sprouts up, it germinates, multiplies, and corrupts many through the harsh words and angry actions it produces in us.

But you can kill this evil weed at its root! In God, we have a perfect paradigm. He loved us when we were unlovable. Through Christ, he has forgiven us more than we can ever know (Ephesians 4:32). Therefore, choose to reciprocate this heavenly love, kindness, and forgiveness to others!

Now What?

Review the related July 19 devotion about forgiveness and Matthew 18:23-35.

Did You Know?

Ephesians 4:26-27 exhorts us to make amends with others on the same day, if possible, to avoid giving the devil “a foothold.”