Truth:

How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? Psalm 116:12 (New International Version)

Thought:

I don’t consider myself a modern thinker. I’m resistant to the labels others try to force on me.  I think about webs of relationships, not linear cause-and-effect. I can hold multiple conflicting thoughts without any angst. And I’m a follower of Christ.

I know this makes some people nervous. However, I’m believing that from post-post-modernity the greatest theologians in history will emerge.

I do have a problem with the way many people, especially those with my thinking process, carry out truth. We can believe something is true, but it doesn’t make a difference in our lives. Truth doesn’t matter if we don’t work out its implication into our lives. If it doesn’t matter, can it be true?

Let me give you an example.

Ask anyone to create a scale of goodness. Pick a spot on the wall – the top is good, the bottom is bad. Tell them to choose an example for the bottom – it’ll be someone like Hitler. Ask them to have an example for the top – Mother Teresa will usually come up.  Ask them where they think the average person in the world is on the continuum and depending on their view of life, the average will be anywhere from the middle of the scale or slightly below, up to halfway or to the top or slightly more.

Now, ask them to say where they are. We inevitably say we’re better than the average. (If you don’t think you are, you may have some issues with guilt. Read 1 John 1:9, then repent and know you’re forgiven.)

How can we all be better than average?

It is because we judge ourselves by our intention and judge everyone else by their actions.

Sorry news… the Bible tells us to judge goodness by what we do. Intentions are not good enough.  It’s not “being good’ that is important, it’s “doing good” that counts with God.

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.  Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it. For the Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil.”
1 Peter 3:8-13 (New Living Translation)

So as we intentionally grow the fruit of goodness, we need to do “good”. We don’t need to feel “good”. We don’t need to think “good”. We need to do “good”.

And you already know what “good” is because you belong to the One who is Good.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:31 (New International Version)

Who will you show goodness to today?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for creating me the way I am. Thank You I was born for this time and created for eternity. Thank You so much for the goodness You’ve shown me. Thank You for Your forgiveness and mercy and provision and blessing. Empower me, Holy Spirit, to show that same goodness to someone today.

Challenge:

Treat everyone today, the way you would want to be treated. That includes the telemarketer that calls during supper and the unenlightened individual that cuts you off in traffic while he or she was talking on there mobile. Make it a habit… who knows where it could lead?

Declaration:

I choose to reflect the light of the Son to the side of the world that’s away from the Son. I choose to put on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Truth:

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:44-48 (New Living Translation)

Thought:

Can you remember the last time someone showed you kindness …when it wasn’t to repay something you did for him or her, or to sell you something, or even to make an impression?

Doesn’t it just encourage you to remember someone like that?

Those are the people I like to hang around. They are the ones I need to learn from.

Of course, most have learned it from God.

Did you know God enjoys showing kindness towards all He has made?

…but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:24 (New International Version)

Did you know there are results when we don’t respond to His kindness?

About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the Lord’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 32:24-25 (New Living Translation)

Did you know God alone can respond the way He did against Hezekiah?

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,
for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the
Lord.    Romans 12:19 (New International Version)

God’s justice is for God alone to wield. Jesus wants us to leave everything in God’s hands and to reflect the nature of God to those who can’t pay us back.

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner,
do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your
rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will
be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the
crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although
they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of
the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14 (New International Version)

Can we be kind and expect nothing in return? Can we obey what Jesus said in Luke 6:35 and show kindness to even those who consider us enemies?

You can because the nature of God is written and being rewritten on the parchment of your heart. You are shining His light to the side of the world that’s away from the Son. And He empowers you to do it:

1. Because of God
2. With Jesus
3. Empowered by the Holy Spirit

These are the Kindness Rules to allow kindness to rule.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for showing me kindness and help me to respond to it by showing it to others. I don’t want this to be a program I try for a certain number of days. I need this to be the pattern for my life. Help me to show kindness to all – to those close, to those against, and to those who cannot repay. Show me who I can show Your kindness to today and how I can do it so You get the glory.

Challenge:

There’s someone that has come to your mind that you need to be kind to today. It could be a neighbor, a co-worker, an extended family member, a person on the bus or a stranger on the street. Show them kindness that isn’t owed them, and don’t do it to have kindness returned.  Send me your stories.

Declaration:

I choose to reflect the light of the Son to the side of the world that’s away from the Son. I choose to put on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.