ESOCS Devotional 7 February 2022
TEXT: LUKE 6:27-38
MEMORY VERSE: “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the highest: for he is kind unto the thankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:25 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place ”
27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, [a]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
The tendency to show kindness is very high but the ability to expand and even extend this kindness beyond the boundaries of family ties, relationship, and friendship is rare. Many a times our display of kindness is either reciprocation of what others have done for us or in expectation of what we want to receive from them.
This however, falls short of Jesus’ admonition to us as revealed in our text, “…and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again …” More so, the nature of God is that of kindness and compassion. He therefore expects us all as His true children to put on that same nature. Let someone in your neighbourhood or place of work call you a child of God by your show of kindness today.
Therefore, kindness beyond bounds according to our text means:
Showing kindness to the grateful: In this category are those who genuinely need compassion at various levels and are filled with gratitude in their life. They may not be able to repay you but you can confirm that they are indeed very grateful. By your action you plant an indelible seed of kindness in their heart. They necessarily do not need to relate to you but deserve your kindness.
Showing kindness to the ungrateful: These are people that are never appreciative in nature. They are in need of kindness but you never see a true sign of gratitude in them. They hardly say thank you for the kindness you show to them, whether in words, deeds or even body language. What do you do? Ignore their attitude and continue with your show of kindness.
Showing kindness to the evil: These ones by human calculation do not deserve our kindness; they are considered enemies and wicked people. But interestingly, God instructs that our kindness be shown to them. Thus, to be a true child of God show kindness to all persons, even your enemies. Who can tell, you might just win a soul.
- Never show kindness only to those who can reciprocate it.
- Be kind to all.
- Father, thank you for showing me kindness all the time. Forgive my acts of partial show of kindness and grant me the grace to be kind to all, in Jesus name. Amen.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Leviticus 23:23-44; Songs of Solomon 2:8-14; 1Corinthians 3:10-23
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ESOCS Devotional 7 February 2022
