It Never Hurts

TO Show A Little Kindness Matthew 7: Its all good, it helps us in the issue of judging others. "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary lblessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9) Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble” (1 Peter 3:8-9)Pauls says in Ephesians 4:31-32 first “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. You have either one or the other. other wise it will not work. I believe we will be a success in our Christian walk if we set a goal to build a kind atmospheer around us, a place where no one feels like a nobidy, they are known by name (I must say I am pretty bad at this, I have a haed time remembering names, but then it may be different if that was one of my focuses.) make a practice of greeting, holding the door, allowing someone to go ahead of you in line, each and every day, it is amazing the response you get when you do these things, you recognize people and they feel seen and valued. For instance, the other day in the bank, I noticed a lady standing by the ATM at the bank, thunking she was going into the bank I held the door open for her, but she didn't enter. She said, I am just waiting here a bit until that guy leaves that is out there infront of the bank He was just in here and he seemed a little creepy. I said, well, I'm going out to my car,would you like to walk with me out to yours,we should be safe together. She said thank you very much, that would be nice. this was creating an atmosphere where she felt recognized, safe, and respected.” Thats what both Peter abd Paul were talking about here. Are we committed to living and creating a world around us where people feel safe and recognized. As a believer in Christ we need to seek to put into practice the things the scriptures teach us, and try create the harmony the apostles Peter and Paul urged believers in Jesus to live out in our homes, churches, and communities. This is not a colling, but rather it is a command, a must if we call ourselves followers if Christ. Peter says, “ALL" "of you, should “be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult” (1 Peter 3:8-9). These instruction were given to the early followers of Christ who had been scattered across the world at that time who were being persecuted, put-down, they were recieving poor treatment, it was very common back then. Yet theu were being asked to respond by not, “repaying evil with evil, but rather with a blessing” to “seek peace and pursue it” (vv. 9-11), said Peter. To me this is how people will understand that we as believers are different from the world. As I read peoples comments on line (on FB) on almost any issue there is always some one spouting anger and hate, rediculling someone item they are selling or an issue they are passionate about, and they are being condemned for not reason at all other than the other person is angty at the world. We also see this happening in the workplace by bosses and or from fellow workers, we see road rage, both side of the political fields are being attact, those of different color and life style are being attact, hatful fury is spouted in families causing flare-ups and separation, this happening even in Christian families, this seems to be happening more and more. We need to pray and ask God to help us get rid of our anger to take away the rage, raging within us. Because as believers this sort of thing should not be. Read (Matthew 7:15-19) If you claim to be a Christian (a good tree) you should not be producing bad fruit, but good. YES, as believers in Christ, we have the daily filling of the Holy Sporot to give us the power to produce gooooood fruit, the Holy Spirit should be fill us with Gods love and the light of His love within us. So, I suggest we take a little look inwardly this morning and ask ourselves a few questions. Am I baring gooood fruit? or am I always temped and yielding to react with rage or evil actions, when someone confrints me and tells me I am doing something wrong? Rather than continuing this reaction we need to ask God to help us offer kindness and peacful solutions rather than flying off the handle and demanding out way. Pray with me this morning, Lord, this is for me as muchh as it is for the next guy, I ask you to please help me show a little kindness, help me show Your compassion, your love, your grace and your peace in my life style today, may the Holy Spirit come and fill me full and may it over flow from my life this day. Ot os in your name I pray AMEN.