Morning Devotional 031724 Be Kind

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

  March 17, 2024

Luke 6:27-36

27 “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. 31 Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you. 32 “If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. 36 Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.

Good Morning! Spread kindness to all you meet!

In a world where you can be anything, be kind! I appreciate the efforts of many to reinforce this idea. As a society, it seems that more people are self-serving than I have ever seen. So many have this me-first mentality and they will stop at nothing to get everything that they believe they deserve, need, or want. 

Jesus came to teach us a new way—a way where the last shall be first and the outcasts shall be lifted up from their oppression. As we continue our journey towards the cross, we are called to show the world this new way, Jesus’ way. You would think that 2000 years later, we would have learned this, but kindness and humility ebb and flow through each generation. 

When things get so bad, that we have nowhere else to turn, people return to God and work to follow Christ, but as soon we start to feel confident again, many start to slip away and return to their self-serving ways. 

Adopt a kindness matters approach, and all will be blessed. Jesus came to share the Good News: God who loved us before, still loves us and wants to be with us. 

Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. Help us live and treat others as you treat us. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Hateful words are easily spoken, but God calls us to caring speech.

Be kind! Pastor Liz