Daily Devotional: Thursday, Feb 11
Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Patience & Kindness
Weekend Music links on iTunes: Salvation is Here by Hillsong United; Let the Praises Ring by Lincoln Brewster; Your Name by Paul Baloche; Let Us Adore by Hillsong.
Read: Titus 3:4-8; Ephesians 4:25-32
Think: As Pastor Ben continued our series on the fruit of the Spirit, and focused in on patience and kindness, I remembered a time I was so very grateful for the kindness of a stranger. A few years ago we were travelling in Canada and got stranded at a ferry terminal enroute to the airport for a flight back home. There was a transportation workers strike and no mode of transportation was available - no bus, cab, car or unicycle, nada! We were definitely beginning to stress out and as we our irritation rose we let out that strangled cry to God: HELP Lord!
Just then a well dressed businessman who had been nearby observing our situation offered us a ride to the airport. He didn't want anything from us, didn't have an ulterior motive... It was simply the kindness of a stranger. He got us to the airport on time and with our marriage still intact to boot! One might say it was a random act of kindness, a pay-it-forward moment. But we know it was much more. We fully believe he was sent by God.
The Apostle Paul had a great perspective about any kindness we as followers of Christ extend. He taught that these acts are simply an outward expression of what the Heavenly Father has done inside to those who belong to Him... In Ephesians 4:32, Paul tied being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to the way God has treated us. In Titus 3:4, he said that it was "the kindness and the love of God" that provided the way for us to spend eternity with the Lord - to be saved.
In a world where indifference, selfishness and too-busy-to-care are the norm, kindness can make such a difference when it is motivated by Christ-like love. In extending kindness we can have a spiritual impact on others simply by showing them a tangible outward expression of the kind of love God has for them in Jesus. What motivates us to try? There's no better reason than the love of God as shown to us by Jesus.
Do: Don't do a random act of kindness but a love-of-Jesus driven act of kindness today!
Pray: God I want to show the world what I believe not by what I know, but by how I live and how I love. Father, fill me with kindness that I can pour out on people who need a sign of your amazing love for them today. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
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