Dear Friends,
As I've been continuing to reflect on kindness in the scriptures, I have been repeatedly brought back to God's love for the poor and his instructions to his people to be kind to them. For example, Prov. 14:21 (NIV) reads, "It is a sin to despise one's neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy." This seems so simple and obvious, and yet so many people who call themselves Christians today openly despise their neighbors who are in need rather than looking for ways to extend kindness to them.
Make no mistake, to wish ill upon your neighbor, whether your neighbor has a home or not, was born in your country or not, lives according to a lifestyle you approve or not, is to hate not only your neighbor but God himself. "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God" (Prov. 14:31 NIV). Kindness, according to the scriptures, is an act of worship. So let us worship freely, continually, and in great passion and abundance.
A prayer for today:
Lord, teach me to worship you in my heart and in my actions toward all those around me who are in need. Don't let me judge or fear or hold back but let me show true kindness in great abundance. And as I do, cause me to see and know you. Amen.
Love in Christ,
Michelle
