What time is it for you? It’s great to be in a sermon series at church about “This is Love” and to consider as if not now then when and if not you then who comes to mind. Have you ever considered how patience is about withholding punishment even though you happen to have a right to it? How about how kindness isn’t about withholding but rather about moving forward to me someone right where they are at and do what it takes to make things right?
The Divine Foundation: Patience and Kindness
Patience and kindness are foundational virtues deeply rooted in the character of God and exemplified through His actions towards humanity. Patience reflects God’s enduring tolerance and mercy towards our shortcomings, demonstrating His willingness to wait for us to grow and change. It involves maintaining composure and grace in the face of adversity, refraining from anger or haste. Kindness, on the other hand, mirrors God’s boundless compassion and generosity towards His creation. It encompasses acts of compassion, empathy, and goodwill, seeking to uplift and serve others without expectation of return.
Practical Applications: Time to be Embodying Patience and Kindness
In practice, patience manifests as a deliberate choice to remain calm and understanding, even in challenging circumstances. It involves forbearance and empathy, allowing space for others to make mistakes and grow, just as God does for us. Kindness, meanwhile, reveals itself through tangible acts of love and compassion towards others, regardless of their deservingness or reciprocation. It involves genuine concern for the well-being of others and actively seeking opportunities to extend grace and support.
Biblical Imperatives: Time to show Patience and Kindness in Daily Life
Putting patience and kindness into practice requires a heart aligned with God’s love, seeking to emulate His character in every interaction. By embodying these virtues, we reflect the love of Christ to the world around us, drawing others closer to Him through our actions. As we strive to cultivate patience and kindness in our daily lives, let us remember the words of Colossians 3:12-13: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” This verse underscores the transformative power of patience and kindness in fostering unity, forgiveness, and the flourishing of relationships. Let us, therefore, seek to embody these virtues in all that we do, honoring God and blessing those around us.
Today’s Devotional:
This year, I am utilizing the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas, applying its teachings specifically in the context of fatherhood. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit DavidJeremiah.org.
Topic: NOW IS THE TIME
Verse: Acts 24:25 (NIV)
As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
Today’s Devotional kicks off speaking of the story of Paul and Felix and how he “kept Paul in prison for two years even though all the evidence pointed to Paul’s innocense.” It continued explaining how it even got to the point where “he sent Paul away” and “would call him at a more convenient time” which never came.
Time isn’t to be wasted
Today’s Devotional shares funny analogies about procrastination and procrastinators. It starts speaking of “the Procrastinators Anonymous Club Meetings” and how they “were infrequent because no one got around to sending out notices” or how “breakfast meetings never started before noon” and even how their “Christmas party was in July.” Do you think procrastination is funny or that it can be sometimes?
Let’s be the dads who stop procrastinating making the decision to invite Jesus into our lives! Today, let’s ask God to walk with us to help us be the dads He created, purposed, and planned for us to be for the sake of our wives, kids, and world and for His glory! Let’s do it before it is too late for we don’t know the day or the time when Jesus will come back or even that our lives will end, so we need to decide before it is too late. Could today be your day of salvation? Will today be the more convenient time to accept the gospel, the good news, or are you willing to risk it and loose the opportunity to spend eternity with God rather than apart from Him?
“There is no way that you can keep from being confirmed to the world unless you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
RAY STEDMAN
