'kindness' Tagged Posts

'kindness' Tagged Posts

Daily Devotions

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.” vss. 9-10 James 3:6-12 As James continues his discussion of the tongue, he indicates that our use of it for both blessing God and cursing our neighbor is a travesty. And he’s right! And we would be hard-pressed to find…

Daily Devotions

Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven; he rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven.” vss. 23-24 Psalm 78:23-29 As he reminded his readers of Israel’s history, this psalmist could scarcely restrain himself as he recounted the insolent and treacherous behavior of the multitude that followed Moses through the wilderness. In his estimation their whining and complaining was nothing short of despicable. They deserve destruction, but instead they received…

Daily Devotions

For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” vs. 5 Psalm 30:1-5 The psalmist had an intimate relationship with the Lord, the kind of connection that a child might have with a parent. Within the context of that relationship, the psalmist experienced all the estrangements and intimacies that are felt in any healthy family. The times of isolation were balanced by tenderness…

Daily Devotions

Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.” vs. 20 1 John 4:17-21 During these last decades it’s been stunning to see people who claim to be Christians joining the choruses of hate that masquerade as public discourse in our country and around the world. Claiming to possess freedom of speech they…

Daily Devotions

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted.” vss. 29-30 Matthew 10:29-34 Outside of God there is nothing. Inside of God there is everything. Jesus teaches a view of God that challenges our minds and gives peace to our souls. Even the hairs of our heads are all counted, no one of us is beyond God’s…

Daily Devotions

I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.’” vss. 7-8 Psalm 2 Many of the psalms in the Hebrew scriptures were “Royal Psalms” and were composed for special occasions like the coronation of a king. This psalmist imagines a dialogue in which the Lord promises that the…

Daily Devotions

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden… In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” vss. 14, 16 Matthew 5:12-16 There is a power in these words from Jesus that goes beyond human understanding, and we can only begin to grasp their significance as we realize that Jesus is talking about the light…

Daily Devotions

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” vs. 8 Micah 6:6-8 Sometimes folks act as though they’re confused about how they ought to live out their lives on this blue orb. On one hand this is understandable. There are a bunch of options out there, and it’s not always easy to choose among them. But…

Daily Devotions

For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love…” vs. 8 Philemon 1:8-9 Paul has a favor to ask of his friend Philemon, a leader of the congregation at Colossae. Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus, a new Christian, has become a companion to Paul in prison. Paul would like Philemon to welcome Onesimus back as a brother in Christ and to…

Daily Devotions

They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.” vs. 4 Psalm 112:1-4 Even though the world seems to be overrun with greedy and deceptive liars and rascals, the psalmist insisted that there was another side to the picture. He observed that there was a vast cadre of folks who lived according to the precepts of the law and who brought light to dark places. On our better days, when our eyes…

Daily Devotions

As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.” vs. 27 Luke 8:26-31 Many of the homeless who can be seen in the streets of our cities suffer with various forms of mental illness. Some find refuge in shelters but many simply wander, looking for food and begging, and often being a…

Daily Devotions

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” vs. 12 John 14:12-17 As John recounts Jesus’ words to his disciples during his last evening with them, he makes his wishes and intentions crystal clear. Jesus wants them to continue the works that he began, i.e., to announce good news to the poor, release…