June 20, 2017 … Just Try A Little Kindness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 171 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Glen Campbell singing a hit song from 1970 … Try A Little Kindness … poignantly singing of what Christians should be gladly sharing with others every day.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Thessalonians 5:11 [NKJV} … 
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 
… Paul recognized that we Christians should encourage one another.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Thessalonians 5:9-29 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Apostle Paul encourages encouragement.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Galatians 6:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul recognized that Christians must do good to/for one another.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Ephesians 4:29 [NLT] … 
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
 … Paul on how to use our words to encourage rather than discourage.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mart DeHaan, writes of recognized relational business practices which yield more productivity. The ODB author wrote: In the workplace, words of encouragement matter. How employees talk to one another has a bearing on customer satisfaction, company profits, and co-worker appreciation. Studies show that members of the most effective work groups give one another six times more affirmation than disapproval, disagreement, or sarcasm. Least productive teams tend to use almost three negative comments for every helpful word. 

I worked in managing hospital workers for over 30 years; and I learned that a supervisor could get far more productivity from his colleagues by showing kindness and respect rather than trying to demonstrate the authority of a “BOSS.”  Take a look at the attached photo above. And, if you worked for me, which face would your rather see most of the time? …

No brainer, right?!  😇

And that’s what the Apostle Paul realized would produce more Christlikeness in fellow Christians; and hence the many writings in his letters (see above) encouraging Christians to be encouragers. The Apostle likely remembered what he had been like in his days of persecuting Christians; and once having been saved by Christ and having been shown the grace of encouragement from His Savior, Paul wanted other Christians to share the love, kindness, and smiley-faces that only the love of God can provide.

So, what can we do to share a smile and friendliness to others today?

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … Lord, … Let me be like You today and dole out your grace in what I say to others. … Amen

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.