Kindness

July 4th – Proverbs 3:3

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Proverbs 3:3

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

How many of us wear a Cross necklace to remember our Savior? Well Solomon tells us the necklace we should be wearing is one that says “Hesed”, meaning loving faithfulness. And not only should “Hesed” adorn our necks, but more importantly be tattooed upon our hearts. Why? As a reminder to prioritize love and faithfulness as guiding principles in all we do and say. Love compels us to show kindness, compassion, and empathy towards others. Faithfulness calls us to be trustworthy, reliable, and true to our word. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of loving faithfulness. And He serves as a beacon of hope and an example to follow. For the Lord reminds us of the boundless love of God and encourages us to extend that love and faithfulness to others. By imitating Jesus’ compassionate heart and unwavering commitment, we can become vessels of his love in a broken world. And take up His banner of spreading His message of hope, forgiveness, and redemption to a desperate world.

July 4th – Proverbs 3:3 Read More »

May 7th – Lamentations 3:22-23

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Lamentations 3:22-23

It’s hard for me to read the book of Lamentations without a lump in my throat. Because its pages are filled with the pain of the prophet Jeremiah. He grieves over the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. Yet even in the midst of desolation and despair, Jeremiah had a heart of gratitude for the goodness of God. Gratitude is a powerful tool in overcoming the feelings that ail us. And knowing God’s compassion and kindness towards us are renewed each morning, helped ease the prophets pain. No matter how bad the circumstances of the day, with each new sunrise comes the opportunity to start fresh. To let go of yesterday and its failures and hurts, and receive God’s grace and forgiveness. Furthermore, when we trust in His unwavering love and faithfulness, and remember God’s faithful goodness, we too will have an overwhelming gratitude that eases our pain. And hearts that look to Him for the strength and hope we need to face each day.

May 7th – Lamentations 3:22-23 Read More »

March 25th – Hebrews 13:16

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Hebrews 13:16

Every once in awhile you’ll hear that it’s, “Random Acts of Kindness Day.” And everyone should go out and do something in service of another. But God tells us that everyday should be filled with acts of kindness for others. For the love and blessings He so generously gives to us, we are to pass on to another. You know I’ve heard it said that the service we give to others is the rent we give to live on this earth! I like that. And that rent should be collected in payments of love. Because love isn’t how we feel about someone, it’s how we treat them. So instead of just praying for God to meet someone’s need, if we can meet that need ourselves we are to do it. Becoming a blessing to others doesn’t only benefit them, but is also pleasing to God. And By reaching out to others in love and kindness, we can create a better world for ourselves and those around us.

March 25th – Hebrews 13:16 Read More »

March 9th – Matthew 5:8

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Matthew 5:8

My grandmother had a little needlepoint plaque on her bathroom wall quoting Matthew 5:8. And even though I didn’t really understand what it meant to be pure of heart, I can remember wanting to be good enough to get God’s blessing. To be pure of heart means to have a genuine, sincere, and honest attitude towards ourselves and others. An attitude that not only pleases the Lord, but brings with it many blessings. Blessings including a heart free of shame and guilt, strong relationships with others, a greater sense of purpose in life, and growth in our spiritual walk with the Lord. But what being pure of heart doesn’t mean is being perfect or flawless. Instead it involves practicing humility and kindness, and being able to see the good in others, even when they have wronged us. The same way our Lord and Savior so generously and lovingly sees us.

March 9th – Matthew 5:8 Read More »

February 17th – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Gratitude is a powerful tool in our spiritual warfare. And by remembering the goodness of God, His love, grace, and mercy, our hearts will be so overflowing with thankfulness, we can be grateful no matter the circumstance. For He is always faithful in meeting our needs. And out of that gratitude, we too need to meet the needs of others. Because seeing the struggles of others makes our eyes to open to His great love. Suddenly blessings once taken for granted, become greatly appreciated. And as a bonus, when we reach out to those less fortunate out of appreciation to the Lord, we bring gratitude into the lives of others. Becoming loving ambassadors of God’s grace and mercy. So whenever you feel yourself lacking in the gratitude department, remember this. “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.” (Eph. 1:4) Imagine that! Even before the creation of the earth, God knew and wanted each of us!

February 17th – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Read More »

February 16th – Proverbs 11:17

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Proverbs 11:17

There’s no way around it. It hurts when someone mistreats us. Yet while the world tells us to hurt them back, God tells us, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44) Not an easy task on our own. But when our strength comes from God, there’s no limit to what we can do. For He is our Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer. And His grace will prevent us from saying or doing things that we will later regret. Such as wronging others, ruining relationships, and harming our own hearts. We serve a loving God who gives all who love Him unmerited mercy and forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ. And He wants us to do the same. Not only for the benefit for others, but also for ourselves. Because revenge and retribution makes our hearts grow hard and bitter. And keeps us from experiencing God’s very best for our lives.

February 16th – Proverbs 11:17 Read More »

February 6th – Romans 12:20

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Romans 12:20

Some people are just hard to love. Those who no matter what we do, will criticize, judge, and find fault. Yet no matter how they treat us, God is very clear. We are never to repay evil for evil. (1 Thess. 5:15) Dealing with others not as mean as they are, but rather as good as God is. For when we do, Paul tells us it’s as if we are “heaping burning coals on their head.” But far from the picture of destruction these coals paint, they aren’t meant to consume our enemies with fire. Instead our coals of love are meant to melt even the coldest and hardened of hearts. Once we were enemies of God. Yet instead of giving us what we deserved, He gave us what we didn’t. Providing His Son as a path of reconciliation so He could call us His beloved. And when we too choose compassion over revenge, sharing the grace of God with others, we show the Lord how thankful we are for the unmerited love He so generously gives to us.

 

February 6th – Romans 12:20 Read More »

October 2nd – Psalm 145:17

1 Comment / Daily Devotional /

Psalm 145:17

God’s Promise – I am righteous in all My ways and kind in all that I do.

Because we are fallen beings, we can’t be counted on to always do the right thing. And since different people have different ideas about morality, what’s right in one’s eyes is wrong in another’s. When it comes to righteousness, there is only One who is perfect in every thought, word, and deed. In all His ways, the Lord our God alone is eternally, just, honorable, and honest. And because righteousness isn’t something God does, but who He is, He shows us kindness. An unmeasurable kindness in the form of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Once we were dead in our sins, eternally separated from God. But, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) Sparing nothing, not even His own Son, God provided the path of righteousness through the blood of Christ. Now all who receive Jesus as their Savior stand before the Father washed clean and declared righteous!

October 2nd – Psalm 145:17 Read More »

August 31st – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Loving others isn’t an easy thing to do. Yet that’s the call God gives to us. And although no one can love unconditionally and perfectly like Jesus, we do need to show each other that same Christlike love. That means practicing patience and kindness even when we are frustrated with those around us. And finding joy instead of envy at another’s blessings. Christlike love isn’t based in arrogance or pride. It doesn’t intentionally provoke others nor keep a record of wrongs committed against us. It’s a selfless love, that is demonstrated through action. And is perfectly exampled by Jesus on the Cross. When describing love, St. Augustine said, “Love has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” Such a love is impossible in our own strength, but through God all things are possible, including loving the unlovable.

August 31st – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Read More »

August 29th – Hebrews 12:6

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Hebrews 12:6

Author Ellen J Barrier once said, “I believe that parents who love their children do everything for them with love, even discipline.” But even when it’s done from a loving heart, no one likes punishment. Yet the writer of Hebrews tells us to rejoice when we’re being disciplined by God. Because it’s one of the kindest things He can do. For through discipline, we see the love our Father has for His children. As parents ourselves we understand that raising successful, independent, and healthy children comes from training them up in the way they should go. Training rooted in love, correction tempered with compassion, and punishment doled out with mercy. God wants just as much for His children to be successful. So from His great love, He doesn’t turn a blind eye to our mistakes. Instead He disciplines us as much as needed, and only as long as needed. And all for our good and His glory.

August 29th – Hebrews 12:6 Read More »