by Wendy Elizabeth Middleton
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32
Acts of kindness shouldn’t be random they should be consistent.
Our words should encourage. Rather than dishing the dirt we should be dishing compliments. Find something nice to say, and if you can’t, at the moment, then keep your mouth shut until you can.
Acts of kindness should not require acknowledgment they should be as anonymous as possible.
Bitterness can creep up on us as we dutifully fulfill the hard obligations of life. We cook the meals and clean the house without so much as a thank you. We do our jobs to the best of our abilities without so much as a ‘Good job’ in return. We do all the work and the boss gets the bonus. Life ain’t fair!
In the parable of the Good Samaritan the good son didn’t go to the party because he was bitter. He felt slighted because his accomplishments went unacknowledged and yet his brother’s lack of accomplishment was celebrated. He totally missed the reason for the celebration, and because he was wrongfully bitter he totally missed the party.
Christians are already safe within the flock and obligated by salvation to be about the Father’s business. We are invited to the celebration of every new Christian. We should celebrate every new Christian, not be bitter that we are not the one being celebrated. So leave off bitterness and join the party.
Acts of kindness should not be limited to friends and family.
Acts of kindness shouldn’t be random they should be consistent.
Our words should encourage. Rather than dishing the dirt we should be dishing compliments. Find something nice to say, and if you can’t, at the moment, then keep your mouth shut until you can.
Acts of kindness should not require acknowledgment they should be as anonymous as possible.
Bitterness can creep up on us as we dutifully fulfill the hard obligations of life. We cook the meals and clean the house without so much as a thank you. We do our jobs to the best of our abilities without so much as a ‘Good job’ in return. We do all the work and the boss gets the bonus. Life ain’t fair!
In the parable of the Good Samaritan the good son didn’t go to the party because he was bitter. He felt slighted because his accomplishments went unacknowledged and yet his brother’s lack of accomplishment was celebrated. He totally missed the reason for the celebration, and because he was wrongfully bitter he totally missed the party.
Christians are already safe within the flock and obligated by salvation to be about the Father’s business. We are invited to the celebration of every new Christian. We should celebrate every new Christian, not be bitter that we are not the one being celebrated. So leave off bitterness and join the party.
Acts of kindness should not be limited to friends and family.
The best acts of kindness, the most productive acts of kindness, are those directed towards enemies, and people we don’t even know.
Rage and anger are explosive and festering. Both are destructive. The thing about rage and anger is that they are often more harmful to the one enraged and angry than they do to the object of rage and anger.
The whole body reacts to emotions. Anger, fear, rage, hate and frustration all generate similar reactions in the body. Eyes dilate, pulses race, muscles tense, breathing changes as the whole body prepares for action. It is a physical response to being threatened. If the threat is real then the emotion is necessary. If he threat is only perceived then the emotion, and its physical reaction is not necessary and potentially harmful.
If the threat is real then action is necessary but our reactions must be tempered by the love of Christ for all men, including the men who threaten us. It takes guts to turn the other cheek, but bear in mind that retaliation belongs to God not us. Getting rid of anger, fear, rage and frustration takes concentrated effort.
Rage and anger are explosive and festering. Both are destructive. The thing about rage and anger is that they are often more harmful to the one enraged and angry than they do to the object of rage and anger.
The whole body reacts to emotions. Anger, fear, rage, hate and frustration all generate similar reactions in the body. Eyes dilate, pulses race, muscles tense, breathing changes as the whole body prepares for action. It is a physical response to being threatened. If the threat is real then the emotion is necessary. If he threat is only perceived then the emotion, and its physical reaction is not necessary and potentially harmful.
If the threat is real then action is necessary but our reactions must be tempered by the love of Christ for all men, including the men who threaten us. It takes guts to turn the other cheek, but bear in mind that retaliation belongs to God not us. Getting rid of anger, fear, rage and frustration takes concentrated effort.
It is not a simple matter of ‘letting it go’ it is more a matter of forcing it out, of constantly reminding ourselves that: 1) God loves us. 2) God loves them 3) Fear not for God is with us 4) Retaliation belongs to God.
Do not deny yourself the joy of the celebration because the party isn’t for you.
Acts of kindness encourage others. Smiles are contagious.
We must be about the Father’s business and the Father’s business is the salvation of all mankind. Brawling and slander has no part in it. Slander is one of the big 10 no-nos in fact. No false witness, no slander, no carrying tales out of school. Kindness builds, slander breaks. Our words and actions should be building the kingdom of God on earth, not tearing it down.
the Lord’s servant must not quarrel’ instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:24
This isn’t just a suggestion; it is an operating ethic. We must not quarrel, because quarrels never change minds. Quarrelers do not teach they quarrel. Quarrels are usually over petty things, nit picky things that don't really matter in the long run.
Acts of kindness don’t just happen they are made to happen.
Kindness is the direct opposite of malice. Good will vs. ill will. It is a conscious decision between how we act, and react to the world around us. We must make every effort, because kindness requires a conscious effort.
Acts of kindness are contagious; they produce fruit and rewards.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36
The fruit is new believers brought to salvation because we passed on the kindness that was shown to us at Calvary. The reward is salvation and an invitation to the feast. We are members of our Father’s kingdom. We are invited to the feast. All we have to do is to get rid of the bitterness, envy, and malice and go into the banquet hall.
Acts of kindness are not arbitrary or partial.
I remember the Columbine Massacre. Students and teachers shot and killed, and the murderers committed suicide. There was a discussion about whether or not to forgive the murderers. People were angry, and rightly so, for the actions of these murderers can never be condoned. But forgiveness does not condone bad behavior.
Do not deny yourself the joy of the celebration because the party isn’t for you.
Acts of kindness encourage others. Smiles are contagious.
We must be about the Father’s business and the Father’s business is the salvation of all mankind. Brawling and slander has no part in it. Slander is one of the big 10 no-nos in fact. No false witness, no slander, no carrying tales out of school. Kindness builds, slander breaks. Our words and actions should be building the kingdom of God on earth, not tearing it down.
the Lord’s servant must not quarrel’ instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:24
This isn’t just a suggestion; it is an operating ethic. We must not quarrel, because quarrels never change minds. Quarrelers do not teach they quarrel. Quarrels are usually over petty things, nit picky things that don't really matter in the long run.
Acts of kindness don’t just happen they are made to happen.
Kindness is the direct opposite of malice. Good will vs. ill will. It is a conscious decision between how we act, and react to the world around us. We must make every effort, because kindness requires a conscious effort.
Acts of kindness are contagious; they produce fruit and rewards.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36
The fruit is new believers brought to salvation because we passed on the kindness that was shown to us at Calvary. The reward is salvation and an invitation to the feast. We are members of our Father’s kingdom. We are invited to the feast. All we have to do is to get rid of the bitterness, envy, and malice and go into the banquet hall.
Acts of kindness are not arbitrary or partial.
I remember the Columbine Massacre. Students and teachers shot and killed, and the murderers committed suicide. There was a discussion about whether or not to forgive the murderers. People were angry, and rightly so, for the actions of these murderers can never be condoned. But forgiveness does not condone bad behavior.
Forgiveness requires repentance. If we ask the Father for forgiveness for the same sin over and over again, He is just to forgive us because He has promised to do so and He doesn’t lie. However – we have not repented of this repeated sin. We have not turned our back on the sin and it will eat us alive, eventually.
It, whatever IT is, is not a sin because God said no. God said no because the sin is harmful to us. If we keep repeating the same harmful behavior we will continue to suffer the consequences, forgiven– yes. Unharmed – no. That is the nature of forgiveness between the Father and his children.
But the Columbine Massacre speaks of forgiveness between man and man. We must forgive those who hurt us, not because they require our forgiveness but because we require the peace that only comes from trusting God to handle the justice of the situation.
It, whatever IT is, is not a sin because God said no. God said no because the sin is harmful to us. If we keep repeating the same harmful behavior we will continue to suffer the consequences, forgiven– yes. Unharmed – no. That is the nature of forgiveness between the Father and his children.
But the Columbine Massacre speaks of forgiveness between man and man. We must forgive those who hurt us, not because they require our forgiveness but because we require the peace that only comes from trusting God to handle the justice of the situation.
There were no arrests at Columbine. If there had been then there would have been, and should have been, consequences for their actions. Those consequences would have required forgiveness and mercy; otherwise we would be no less guilty of murder than them, for in the eyes of God hatred is murder.
Jesus died for those boys. They refused to accept that gift and will suffer eternally for that decision. That is God’s justice, and His alone.
We want our enemies to hurt as they have hurt us but: If your enemy is hungry feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:20-21
Simple – Ain’t – Easy
It requires concentrated effort
Jesus died for those boys. They refused to accept that gift and will suffer eternally for that decision. That is God’s justice, and His alone.
We want our enemies to hurt as they have hurt us but: If your enemy is hungry feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:20-21
Simple – Ain’t – Easy
It requires concentrated effort
And a lot of hard work
Wendy
Wendy
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