The Virtue of Kindness

 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV).

 

Sometimes we use the words kind and nice interchangeably; however, kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate, expressed through voluntary acts of care, empathy, and support without expecting anything in return. It involves a genuine concern for the welfare of others, leading to actions like offering a helping hand, listening intently, providing comfort, or showing compassion. Kindness is more than just being nice; it's an intentional, voluntary behavior that embodies compassion and respect for others as valuable individuals.

 

Unfortunately for many, the word nice simply means that something is pleasant. But in the Scripture, the Greek word chrestotes, translated as “kindness,” goes deeper. It refers to making ourselves useful or beneficial to others, and sometimes that is not pleasant.

 

In our reading today we read some amazing things about the grace of God. By God’s grace we receive the free gift of salvation from our sins. The gift is free, and yet we sometimes forget that it changes us. Grace gets results. Grace is useful, beneficial, and kind.

 

Grace is useful because it changes us. It lifts us up. It seats us on a heavenly throne with Christ Jesus—we become minor rulers serving the King of kings! But don’t forget that kings have responsibilities. Our royal responsibilities include showing the grace of God to everyone, everywhere. We do that by living out the good works that the King of kings has prepared for us to do. And when we do those good works, we become useful (kind) to the world, which in turn can better understand the grace of God expressed through the kindness of Christ Jesus to us. Be kind as He has been kind!

 

The Virtue of Love

 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12 ESV).

 

This might be the most powerful paragraph ever written. With all the volumes written about love, even with all the Scriptures that talk about love, this is the only place where God wrote down his definition of love for all to see. Love is not simply a feeling, or an action, or even a commitment—although all of those things are involved. Love is beyond words and has been communicated most clearly through the Father’s will and the Son’s sacrifice—when Jesus died on a cross so that our relationship with God could be restored.

 

No matter how we view love, God’s love is always more. From the perspective of the Father, he sacrificed what was dearest to him for the sake of those who needed him more. From the Son’s perspective, he sacrificed himself so that we could be restored to the Father. And from our perspective, to the extent that we can see it honestly, we were lost and without a hope in the world. Because of our sin, we were headed for destruction with no way to save ourselves. So, God “sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Why? Because he loves us.

 

And in the light of that love, there is more: “If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” That is our great calling. I wonder if we thought about that truth every time we were ready to press “send” or “publish” … would we? I wonder if that were the overarching motivation for all that we do… would it make a difference? It should!

 

The Virtue of Empathy

 

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 ESV).

 

The Greeks had a word for “encouragement” that was quite similar to our understanding of empathy. It came from the idea of being with someone in their story. That’s the word Paul uses here for helping the disheartened. Disheartened peo­ple are basically those who have lost some of their hope.

 

In our reading for today, Paul urges us to be our best selves for everyone we encounter. Some people find that easier to do than others do. People who are disheartened can be a bit difficult to spend time with. The emotions of others tend to affect us, so we might prefer to be with people who have happiness and excitement to share. But Paul points out that to be truly Christlike, we also need to give our time to those who are struggling.

 

It’s interesting that Paul also goes on to tell us to “rejoice always” (v. 16). Entering into a disheartening story should not dishearten us. It might make us sad or angry, but it shouldn’t cause us to lose hope.

 

With hope we retain joy despite the sadness or anger we may feel with a disheartened friend, because we know that the disheartening things of this world do not have the final say. And we can bring that hope and joy into the other person’s story, doing so in a way that shows they are not alone. With that simple action, we can help to change their story by being a part of it.

 

The Virtue of Hospitality

 

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. (Hebrews 13:1-3 ESV).

 

Today we look at the virtue of hospitality, which is often misunderstood. It is the practice of being genuinely generous, open, and welcoming to guests, strangers, and those in need, extending beyond mere comfort to include attentiveness to their emotional and spiritual well-being. It is a spiritual practice rooted in love, kindness, and a recognition of shared humanity, fostering community and reflecting God's own grace and mercy. Key aspects include letting go of self-preoccupation, embracing vulnerability, and showing genuine interest in others to foster their own well-being and discover new perspectives. 

 

When this passage in Hebrews was written, people were expected to show generous hospitality to travelers who might have nowhere else to stay as they went from town to town. It wasn’t as if people could hop on one of the many booking sites and find a room for the night! So, the writer of this letter uges believers in God to show love and care for one another as well for others who may be in need, such as strangers, travelers, and people in prison. This advice echoes the words of Jesus in Matthew 25, where he teaches that caring for the needs of others is like doing the same for him.

 

This passage in Hebrews also invites us to consider that a stranger or visitor we encounter might be an angel—that is, a messenger from God (cf. Genesis 18). The point is that we should treat anyone we meet as being so valuable and worthy of our time that they might be sent from God, and that showing love and care to them would be like doing the same for the Lord himself. This can be hard to imagine, especially if hospitality is not common in our culture and we need to be wary of danger. But here the Spirit of God is challenging us simply to treat others well, showing love and kindness to everyone, no matter who they are. In other words, we are called to love and care for others just as the Lord has done for us.

 

I wonder what our world would look like if we actually did that!

 

Growing in Self-Control

 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14 ESV).

 

Self-control is certainly a virtue worth exploring. If you have been following Morning Devotionals recently you know Mary and I have recently returned from the Smokies. The cabin we stayed in was very near a Krispy Kreme donut store. The nearly impossible task of driving by without stopping for a dozen donuts when the red sign was lit was certainly more of a challenge than we could resist. Of course, our favorite donut establishment is the Donut Friar in the Village at Gatlinburg, but fresh, warm donuts from Krispy Kreme are a close second. And my sweet tooth often wins that battle!

 

Well, the Scripture has a lot to say about self-control. In our reading today self-control literally means “having a sound mind, or being reasonable.” It is basically the opposite of living in confusion, ignorance, or indifference about making choices that support healthy living.

 

God’s grace saves us from ungodliness (literally, “an unworshipful life”) and from being a slave to the world’s ideas of what we need or want. We are not born with the ability to just say “no”—at least not on a regular basis and not without something else to say “yes” to. If we are without God in our life, all of our “yes’s” are basically guesswork. Our guesses sometimes make things worse, and sometimes a little better—but without God we cannot find the path to full life.

 

In his grace, however, God has already said “yes” to something else for us. Through the work of Jesus, God has said “yes” to our redemption, giving us a whole new way of life. And because of this, God can now train us to say “yes” to better choices in our everyday living. That’s self-control. Self-control is the God-trained ability to understand and choose which options bring us closer to being our best selves. Choose self-control in every area of your life today!

 

The Joy of Life

 

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. (Nehemiah 8:8-12 ESV).

 

How long should we feel sorry for our sins? If we move on too fast, does that show we aren’t really sorry? Are we doing some injustice to God or to others we have sinned against? Or, if we hold on to being sorry too long, does that mean we do not trust enough in God’s power to forgive?

 

Guilt can be hard to get over. The feelings can last a long time. And, while this may be what we deserve, grace has changed that. Since all sins are against God, even when a sin is also against others, God’s situation is totally opposite to ours. He could demand that we wallow in our sorrow. But that’s not who God is. God loves us and is overjoyed when we want to be in a good relationship with him again. In fact, God has so much joy when we repent of our sin that his joy provides the strength we need to forgive ourselves.

 

Nehemiah urged the people to experience that joy. He called for a feast so that the people could enjoy fine foods and drinks and share with others. This wasn’t about just going through motions; it was about recognizing that God’s law calls for a relationship with us. And as far as God is concerned, if we are ready to stop moving away from him and start moving toward him, that brings him the most joy.

 

The life Jesus came to give us is one where we recognize that He paid the price we could never pay, and died the death we deserve!

 

The Call to Endurance

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Revelation 3:7-13 ESV).

 

I know we have visited this passage of Scripture recently; however, it is perfect for us today as we examine the need for endurance in our pursuit of a peaceful, joyful life. There is no denying that Jesus suffered terribly because of how sinful our world is. After suffering, Jesus even died because of our sins. He endured suffering and died so that our sins would be paid for and our deaths could be overcome. Then, on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead in triumph, yet we must not lose sight of his suffering.

 

The believers who made up the church in ancient Philadelphia, in Greece, held tightly to the story of Jesus’ suffering. It inspired them enough to face their own suffering and persecution. And Jesus said they would be rewarded for their steadfast endurance.

 

In this passage, what is called “patience” is more like extreme patience. It’s the kind of patience that is required to endure doing the right thing and living the right way even when you can’t see any benefit in doing so. It is the virtue of holding on even when the reward might not come in this life. Jesus’ reward was that his death opened up a door to allow us to spend eternity with him. And our reward is that being devoted to Jesus allows us to step through that door and spend eternity with him. That is our clear call!

  

The Dangers of Greed

 

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21 ESV).

 

Greed is an intense, selfish, and unending desire for more wealth, possessions, or other forms of gain, often beyond one's needs or what is fair. It can manifest as excessive covetousness, a lack of self-control, or a rapacious yearning for material or social advantages, and is Scripturally listed as one of the seven deadly sins. Jesus warns us to watch out for all kinds of greed. Many believe the kind of greed most often seen has to do with very wealthy people wanting more. But Jesus doesn’t focus on that kind of greed in our reading today.

 

In the context of this passage, a man is arguing with his brother over their inheritance. The family has enough to hand down, but Jesus sees that this man is still worried if he will truly have enough. He is greedy not for luxury but for security. Many people don’t even know that kind of greed exists. But many of us have it. We want a little bit more so that we don’t have to worry.

 

Jesus points us away from greed based on worry. So long as we aim to live God’s way, aligning ourselves with God’s purpose for us in this world (seeking his kingdom), and so long as it is not yet time for our heavenly inheritance, God will give us what we need to live for him each day. Wanting more than that is a type of greed. And that will distract us from fully living the life of joy and peace we are created for. So, let’s repent and learn to let go of our worry-based greed.

 

The Benefit of Humility

 

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:1-4 ESV).

 

Yesterday we explored the destructive nature of pride; today, I want to look at the benefit of humility. The rewards promised in our reading are detailed clearly. Avoiding pride is not enough. We need to lean away from it in favor of humility. C.S. Lewis put it aptly: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

 

Look at the second verse of our reading again. God makes both the rich and the poor. In this context, “rich” does not refer to having an extravagant life. Having riches, or wealth, means that when we are doing God’s work—that is, living God’s way—we can count on receiving everything we truly need to keep going.

 

And wealth isn’t the most important reward. Honor, a good name, is more desirable than great riches (v. 1). By humbly following God, we gain the respect of other good people, and we probably gain some respect from some not-so-great people also.

 

The most reliable reward of humbly following God is life itself. When we are humble enough to rely on God’s direction, it is amazing how many pitfalls we avoid. We avoid the problems that pride falsely convinces us that we can handle them ourselves.

 

When we are humble, we are amazed how often God helps us steer clear of trouble that we didn’t even see coming. When we are humble and we see or hear of someone’s folly leading to ruin, we learn to say, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” That’s because the unwise keep going right into trouble; they don’t have God to guide them (v. 3).

 

The Prequel to a Fall

 

The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs 16:17-20 ESV).

 

As we continue in this month’s theme of discovering a life of peace through virtue, today we look at the destructive nature of pride. Pride comes in two forms. The same two kinds of pride show up in many cultures. Both kinds have to do with being majestic or exalted in some way. One kind of pride is good. This is the pride that results from the moment when parents view the development of their children as remarkable. But the other kind of pride is very destructive. Throughout Proverbs we read about the good development that can happen when someone pursues wisdom. True wisdom is gained through God. And even though a wise person can go through many ups and downs in life, the wisdom they’ve gained will help to hold their life together.

 

However, we must beware of trying to keep it all together on our own. This is the result of the kind of pride that makes you think that anything you built on your own is worth more. Or that because you built it by yourself you won’t need anyone’s help to hold it together. Or, most dangerous of all, that because you have been self-sufficient, you are a greater person than people who have relied on others.

 

That kind of pride leads to destruction. Our reading today is saying that if you have built something without God, then it isn’t built very well. It’s not built to last. Sooner or later, the so-called majestic life you built without God will simply fall apart. This is how Jesus taught this principle:

 

[Jesus said] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like aa wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV).

What are you building your life on… only Jesus will insure a life that can withstand the ravages of the storms of life!

 

Contentment

 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:8-13 ESV).

 

Since Mary and I were married I have held many “jobs.” To be clear, there was never a doubt about the calling of God to be a vocational minister; however, as I finished my formal education I needed to “bring home the bacon.” I’ve done janitorial work, odd jobs like painting store windows with seasonal messages, assembly line work in a window and door factory, design drafting, painting and small construction, and a stint at Home Depot in the flooring department. I’ve been a consultant, salesman, and manager in secular positions. And, of course, I’ve been a college student minister, associate pastor, pastor, life coach and counselor. Some paid well, others only provided a meager compensation. However, in every circumstance God more than supplied our needs. In all our journey we have been content. Contentment should never be about how much stuff we possess!

 

Contentment was a powerful word to the Greek-speaking people of the Apostle Paul’s day. To be content literally means “to find everything you need within yourself.” Many teachers in that day believed that contentment was the greatest virtue. But their version of contentment was based on self-accomplishment. To become content, they taught, a person had to be able to provide completely for himself or herself.

 

Paul knew that it was a myth to think that a human being can be completely self-sustaining. And yet here he looks within himself and finds that everything he needs is there within him. God put it there. The Holy Spirit had begun living inside of Paul. This contentment provided by the Spirit of God gave Paul tremendous freedom. He goes on to say that sometimes his physical needs have been met, and sometimes they have not been met. But even when he has not had enough food, clothing, money, or other basic needs, he has still found that God’s peace and strength have been present within him. There is the secret to contentment… resting in the knowledge that God will never leave us alone to face difficulty!

 

This month we’ll explore more of the details in this kind of life. My prayer and hope for you is that you will find as much joy and peace as I have even when life doesn’t seem to make sense!

 

Rrest From Your Labor

 

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (Hebrews 4:9-14 ESV).

 

Happy Labor Day! AI says that Labor Day is “a federal holiday on the first Monday of September that celebrates the social and economic achievements of American workers and the labor movement. It originated in the late 19th century, a time of widespread strikes and protests for shorter workdays, better conditions, and fair wages. The holiday became official in 1894 to recognize the contributions of workers to the nation's strength and prosperity.” Well, for many people it will be just another day. It certainly won’t be a day of rest. Even if you are one of the folks that have the day off from your employment, my guess is that you will be spending it in some kind of “labor.” You may be planning to use the time for completing some put-off tasks around the house; or, perhaps you’re hosting a group of friends for a gathering. Regardless of your plans, I doubt you will be “resting from your labor”!

 

Though I’m writing this devotional on Friday before Labor Day, I can already anticipate that I will be doing much less than I would normally. I have been remanded to inactivity by the doctor and Mary is on full alert to keep me as inactive as possible. Perhaps it will be a good time to do some reading and contemplate where my concentration will lead us in the fall through Morning Devotionals (she seems to think that’s OK… LOL!).

 

In that spirit, let me draw your attention to our reading today. The writer of Hebrews indicates there is a time of “rest” for believers: So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his (v. 9). I certainly believe that will be a part of our eternal gift; however, I find it difficult to imagine what that will look like. One of the clues is found in Jesus’ invitation in the Gospel of Matthew:

 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and m  I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV).

 

Jesus is not talking about a cessation of activity, but a directed path serving the continued purpose we are created to achieve. When we try to achieve that purpose alone it becomes a burden too heavy to bear; however when we join with Jesus in that pursuit, it becomes an easy path forward.

 

Whatever, you “do” today, do it with Him! Then, you will truly rest from your labor!