Be Kind -- Inspiration 16

Be Kind to One Another

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, 
as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

BE KIND to one another, scripture says. Why do we need to be told to be kind? Maybe it is like a strong way of directing attention with softness to it. Kindness is a virtue. A virtue has a moral quality in its essence. A child is told to be kind to their sibling, a student to their peer. In this case, the Christian to another Christian. The saying of it stresses the importance of it. Be kind, tender hearted, forgiving, like Christ has forgiven you. Christ is the ultimate example. That is the best reason of them all. Unselfish, other-focused, the very act in itself, being kind, blesses the other person. To be kind effects goodness. Goodness, in turn, enriches. This benefits those in the relationship. Directed to the Christian, it is meant to impact their interactions with each other personally and in the assembly. Healthy actions are cultivated and they are the expectation. God would have us to be kind to one another to kindle right attitudes that promote regard and respect. To be kind is a practice and a purposed action. God asks this of us. Mixed with tenderhearted forgiveness, it's a winning combination to promote harmony,  unity, and peace.

Father God, sometimes I fail. Help me to be like Christ. May I be kind in word and deed. Help me to rein it in when self-centerdness gets the upper hand.  Take charge of my mouth. Rewire my way of thinking into being a little tool in Your hand by being kind to those I meet on my everyday path.

 

To God be the Glory

Is the Bible Relevant for Today?

Is the Bible relevant?

I have been reading in Genesis, Psalms, and Mark lately. It so impresses me how stories in the Bible are full of drama.

Joseph's story is one of them. It plays out like a movie, with injustice after injustice, event after event, and so forth. He sorrows for his homeland, his people, even though he rises to second in rank in Egypt. And the story line has one amazing, unexpected, unpredictable resolution.

And, in the book of Mark, walking with Jesus and the way each situation occurs and causes people to stumble, rejoice, heal, reject or whatever. There's never a dull moment for the disciples. And the audience? Three days without food while sitting on the hillside listening to Jesus. Could or would we do that?! I love reading the words of Jesus. They speak life and cut to the chase, don't you think?

I read the psalms and see my own kaleidoscope of emotions, defeating fears, incredible joys, depressed feelings, and multiple sorrows ... with ever-present steadfast hope in God. This is the one book in the Bible that I read a chapter of almost every day. It is extremely applicable to the daily struggle and gives us what we need to carry on.

Is the Bible relevant? Yes, the Bible is relevant. At least for me it is. The Bible speaks the language of heart, Spirit, and truth, and that is what makes it relevant for every age.

Blessed I am by its words.