May 21, 2024 … Choosing Kindness …

May 21, 2024 …  Choosing Kindness …       

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... 

…  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics with Tim McGraw singing … Humble and Kind … Poignantly and yet powerfully singing of how we all need to extend humility and kindness to one another. 

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Highlight Passage: … Genesis 11:4 [NLT] … 4 Then Esau ran to meet him [Jacob] and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. </b></i>     

…  Esau extends forgiving kindness to Jacob after 2 decades of separation.                                                                  

Highlight Passage (in context): … Genesis 1:1-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Esau and Jacob are reconciled in Godly kindness to one another.                                             

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 11:17 [NLT] … 

17 Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.. 

…  God, thru Solomon, teaches that He will always reward kindness.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 6:35 [NLT] … 

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 

… Jesus calls for His followers to show love even for our enemies.  

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Romans 5:8 [NLT] … 

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  

…  God showed the ultimate in kindness for sinners by being willing to give up His Son on the cross to save mankind from their (our) sin.         

Reference Passage: … Galatians 6:8 [NLT] …  

8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit..   

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about living to please God’s Spirit.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:31-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians get rid of selfish behaviors and treat one another as Christ would treat us.  

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:8 [NLT] …  

8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins..   

… Peter charges all fellow Christians to show kindness and love to one another.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Lisa M Samra -  AT THIS LINK  -     relates the story of a young little-league baseball player who was hit in head by an opposing pitcher; and having recovered and seeing the dismay of the pitcher, the boy hit by the pitcher went to the mound and hugged his opponent, showing grace and kindness rather than anger.  The video of the incident went viral - SEE THIS LINK -  and showed the world of the value of kindness, shared by those who are injured, rather than harboring revenge or hatred.  

What a great illustration of what God’s word, The Bible, teaches about being able to reach out, with love and forgiveness to others rather than seeking revenge or selfish retribution.  That’s illustrated in the highlight passage and the biblical thoughts expressed by Solomon, Jesus, and the Apostles in the Scriptures above.  But if we’ve taken in the those Scriptures above, we must ask ourselves if that is our attitude - i.e. the attitude of Christlikeness - when we are hurt or betrayed.  Personally, I need to repent and move forward to live as Tim McGraw sings in the linked song.   How about you?                                                                       

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me to avoid selfish revenge when I’m hurt by others   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to ALWAYS seek Your humility and kindness, Lord, in dealing with others.        … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.