November 22, 2015 RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Acts 10:38: “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Colossians 3:12: “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”
I heard about a fourth grade teacher who challenged her students to do “acts of kindness”, and when they did an act of kindness, they were to pin a red heart on the classroom wall. This idea quickly spread to other classes, and even the other teachers and school administrators got in on the action. The result was astounding; the entire school was changed-all because of one fourth grade teacher challenged her students to show kindness! Jesus demonstrated kindness, and throughout scripture believers are called to do the same. Our God is a God who is good and kind, and we have now taken on a new nature that comes from God, enabling us to “go about doing good” just as Jesus did. The idea of doing acts of kindness sounds so simple, but yet it is so powerful because expressing kindness is a concrete, sure-fire way of demonstrating the kingdom of God. You might say that acts of kindness are “boots on the ground” or “tires on the pavement” when it comes to demonstrating the kingdom of God. Kindness expressed has a way of dispelling anger, distrust, conflict, and disagreement. One act of kindness can have more affect than ten thousand words. The doing, or not doing acts of kindness is so critical, because if kindness is in our heart, it will be expressed; and if it not, it will not be expressed. Another great aspect of showing kindness is that there are always ample opportunities to do acts of kindness-if we are alive, then we have occasions to show kindness. Writing a card, opening the door for a stranger, expressing a word of appreciation, looking out for our neighbor’s house while they are away, taking a meal to a shut-in, praying for someone who is sick, being quick to forgive, and etc. are practical ways of expressing kindness. One major benefit of expressing kindness is that it gets our focus off of self; and when our life is focused on ourselves, then we will are most miserable. For the one who does not know God, his motivation in life is that of self-fulfillment and self-preservation. Whereas the one who knows God and understands his new nature, has as his motivation a desire to bless others. Again, our motivation for doing acts of kindness is not to gain God’s approval, but by so doing, we are expressing what is in our heart-the nature of God. When we are expressing who we are in Christ, we find what the heart yearns for, and that is a sense of fulfillment that comes only from God. Man’s nature is to think that he must “get”, while it is God’s nature-and now ours-to “give.” God so loved the world, that He gave; now, because we have been made new-with a new nature, we can also give; and by showing kindness we are giving-just as our Father gives. This season of Thanksgiving is a great time to “ramp” up our acts of kindness-a great time to express gratitude, and a great time to express what is in our heart-the love and kindness of our Father.
Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
Acts 9:36: “Now in Joppa, there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did.” (Read the rest of this chapter to see the details of her dying and of her being raised from the dead. Evidently her “abounding with deeds of kindness” had an impact on her community.)
May each of us “abound with deeds of kindness and charity” just as Dorcas did.
Blessings,
Buddy
Acts 10:38: “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Colossians 3:12: “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”
I heard about a fourth grade teacher who challenged her students to do “acts of kindness”, and when they did an act of kindness, they were to pin a red heart on the classroom wall. This idea quickly spread to other classes, and even the other teachers and school administrators got in on the action. The result was astounding; the entire school was changed-all because of one fourth grade teacher challenged her students to show kindness! Jesus demonstrated kindness, and throughout scripture believers are called to do the same. Our God is a God who is good and kind, and we have now taken on a new nature that comes from God, enabling us to “go about doing good” just as Jesus did. The idea of doing acts of kindness sounds so simple, but yet it is so powerful because expressing kindness is a concrete, sure-fire way of demonstrating the kingdom of God. You might say that acts of kindness are “boots on the ground” or “tires on the pavement” when it comes to demonstrating the kingdom of God. Kindness expressed has a way of dispelling anger, distrust, conflict, and disagreement. One act of kindness can have more affect than ten thousand words. The doing, or not doing acts of kindness is so critical, because if kindness is in our heart, it will be expressed; and if it not, it will not be expressed. Another great aspect of showing kindness is that there are always ample opportunities to do acts of kindness-if we are alive, then we have occasions to show kindness. Writing a card, opening the door for a stranger, expressing a word of appreciation, looking out for our neighbor’s house while they are away, taking a meal to a shut-in, praying for someone who is sick, being quick to forgive, and etc. are practical ways of expressing kindness. One major benefit of expressing kindness is that it gets our focus off of self; and when our life is focused on ourselves, then we will are most miserable. For the one who does not know God, his motivation in life is that of self-fulfillment and self-preservation. Whereas the one who knows God and understands his new nature, has as his motivation a desire to bless others. Again, our motivation for doing acts of kindness is not to gain God’s approval, but by so doing, we are expressing what is in our heart-the nature of God. When we are expressing who we are in Christ, we find what the heart yearns for, and that is a sense of fulfillment that comes only from God. Man’s nature is to think that he must “get”, while it is God’s nature-and now ours-to “give.” God so loved the world, that He gave; now, because we have been made new-with a new nature, we can also give; and by showing kindness we are giving-just as our Father gives. This season of Thanksgiving is a great time to “ramp” up our acts of kindness-a great time to express gratitude, and a great time to express what is in our heart-the love and kindness of our Father.
Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
Acts 9:36: “Now in Joppa, there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did.” (Read the rest of this chapter to see the details of her dying and of her being raised from the dead. Evidently her “abounding with deeds of kindness” had an impact on her community.)
May each of us “abound with deeds of kindness and charity” just as Dorcas did.
Blessings,
Buddy
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