Joyful Words (Proverbs 15:23)

Today’s scripture: Proverbs 15:23

Are your words always joyful? Are your words “spoken in due season”? Does what you say build up others? Or cut them down? Do others find joy in what you say?

Words can bring a smile to another. Or they can reduce one to tears.

The old playground rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is so untrue. Verbal abuse can be just as painful as physical abuse. And sometimes the scars inflicted by a word spoken in anger can last a lifetime.

Someone coined the phrase THINK before you speak:

Is it TRUE? Is it HELPFUL? Is it INSPIRATIONAL? Is it NECESSARY? Is it KIND?

If you want to speak joyful and good words, then I would agree. Think before you speak.

To Sum It Up ... (1 Peter 3:8-12)

Today’s scriptures: 1 Peter 3:8-12

Like a great attorney summing up his case, Peter recaps much of his previous exhortations. And what a recap it is. And far from easy. Read through the list of things we’re commanded to do. And then read it again.

We’re to be “harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.” Now sometimes, this is very easy. I can live in harmony with the nice guys, with my good friends. But this verse doesn’t say “only with those you like.” In fact, Peter makes it pretty clear. We’re not to be “returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead …”

Not easy at all. It’s really hard to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39; Luke 6:29). That’s what we’re commanded to do, however. Why? Well, first, because we’re commanded … But God, our good Father, loves to bless His children. And He’ll bless us for “keeping our tongue from evil,” which includes saying nasty things about others. He’ll bless us for seeking and pursuing peace.

Peace. All of us, at all times, with all people. 

A Different World (Ephesians 4:32)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 4:32

Think of how different our world would be if we were all kind to one another. If we forgave each other as we have been forgiven.

No anger or bitterness. No grudges or desire for revenge.

No jealousy or coveting.

No putting others down.

Just a world full of people showing love. Looking out for each other. Treating each other with respect. Providing for those less fortunate.

All of us would “regard one another as more important than [ourselves]” (Philippians 2:3). We’d love our neighbors more than we love ourselves (Mark 12:30). We’d even be willing to lay down our lives for others (John 15:13).

Oh, what a world it would be.

Maybe we can’t change the entire world, but what about our own small circles of influence. What if each of us chose to be kind to those around us? If we were tender-hearted? If we forgave those closest to us?

It would be pretty amazing. So let’s try it. Let’s determine to accept Paul’s challenge and change—if not the whole world—our own “worlds.”

Do Good to All ... (Galatians 6:9-10)

Today's scriptures: Galatians 6:9-10

“… do good to all people …”

Sometimes it seems we try, really try, to do as Paul commands. But sometimes it’s easy to lose heart. We smile and wish a good morning to that cranky checker, and she sneers. We write a nice note to our child’s teacher, and all we get is a “can’t you keep your child under control?” call in return.

We cook our spouse’s favorite dinner, the one that takes hours to prepare, and he wolfs it down before plopping down to watch the game—not a “thank you” to be heard. We patiently listen to our parent’s weekly tirade, and then even more patiently listen to her complaints about us.

Or we volunteer to work on that church committee, and the first twenty minutes of the weekly meeting is spent sharing the latest gossip.

Oh, yes, it’s easy to lose heart and grow weary.

When I was a child, my mom would always tell me that if I didn’t let people’s meanness or selfishness get to me, often they’d stop what they were doing—at least to me. It took me a while, but I finally got that old adage: It’s easier to attract flies with honey rather than vinegar.

Kindness—doing good—really does impact people. And not playing the martyr or sighing in self-pity. If we genuinely strive to do good to all people, sometimes they’ll be influenced to do good to us.

Eventually, that checker might smile back. That teacher may say, “Thank you.” That spouse may cook instead. That parent may say, “I’m proud of you.”

But even if they don’t, we can be assured of one thing: Our heavenly Father is smiling—and He’s very proud.

Love is Kind (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is kind.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “kind” as “affectionate and loving; of a sympathetic or helpful nature; of a forbearing nature; gentle.” Further, “gentle” is defined as “free from harshness, sternness, or violence.”

When we love, we’re to be kind. We’re to sympathize when our loved one is hurting. We’re to have a servant’s heart, desiring to help him when he’s in need. We’re to be patient (see yesterday’s devotional) when he’s not behaving as we would like.

And we’re to be gentle. Being harsh with the ones we love isn’t acceptable. And especially, there can be no hint of violence, physical or otherwise. Blowing up in anger at the ones we say we love is not love. Treating them harshly or rudely, even “jokingly” is not love. Putting them down—whether alone or with others—is not love.

Sometimes, we treat the ones we say we love worse than we do acquaintances or outright strangers. But that’s not really love.

Today, as you interact with your family and friends, ask the Lord to give you a spirit of kindness. Be loving and affectionate. Serve them without being asked. And if anger is an issue, pray—fervently pray—that the Lord will calm your spirit so you can be kindly loving. 

Today and every day.

Love Is Not Provoked (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NASB)

Love is not provoked.

Good old Webster defines provoke as “to incite to anger” or “to stir up purposely.”

If you’ve been in a relationship for any length of time—and by relationship, I mean family or friendship or romance—you probably know that other person very well. You know what brings him joy, and you know what drives him nuts.

And you know how to push his buttons.

My husband and I have been married for over 24 years (together for almost 27), and we know each other deeply. And yes, we know how to drive each other crazy—if we choose to do so. And sad to say, we sometimes make that choice. Fortunately, the longer we’re together, the less we provoke each other. And when we do, we ask for forgiveness much more quickly.

But I have to ask myself, why do we provoke those we love? If we we're prideful, we’re only hurting ourselves. But if we provoke another, we’re hurting them.

I don’t know for sure, but I have a theory. I think it may have to do with our own feelings of low self-esteem. If we’re not terribly confident in ourselves, we may provoke others to gain a false feeling of superiority.

Which brings us back to Paul’s words to the Philippians … If we love others, we’re going to do “ … nothing … through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (2:3).

I hadn’t thought about it before, but today’s attribute really builds on those that precede it: If we’re patient, if we’re kind, if we’re not boastful or arrogant, then we won’t need to put others down or provoke them to anger.

We won’t need to push their buttons because we’ll be to busy esteeming them. We'll be too busy loving them.

Love Is Kind (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NASB)

Love is kind.

Webster’s Dictionary defines “kind” as “affectionate and loving; of a sympathetic or helpful nature; of a forbearing nature; gentle.” Further, “gentle” is defined as “free from harshness, sternness, or violence.”

When we love, we’re to be kind. We’re to sympathize when our loved one is hurting. We’re to have a servant’s heart, desiring to help him when he’s in need. We’re to be patient (see yesterday’s devotional) when he’s not behaving as we would like. 

And we’re to be gentle. Being harsh with the ones we love isn’t acceptable. And especially, there can be no hint of violence, physical or otherwise. Blowing up in anger at the ones we say we love is not love. Treating them harshly or rudely, even “jokingly” is not love. Putting them down—whether alone or with others—is not love.

Sometimes, we treat the ones we say we love worse than we do acquaintances or outright strangers. But that’s not really love. 

Today, as you interact with your family and friends, ask the Lord to give you a spirit of kindness. Be loving and affectionate. Serve them without being asked. And if anger is an issue, pray—fervently pray—that the Lord will calm your spirit so you can be kindly loving.  

 
Today and every day.

He is Kind (Ps. 42:8)

Every day, you are kind,
and at night
you give me a song
as my prayer to you,
the living LORD God.
(Psalm 42:8, CEV)

Oh, how I needed today’s verse after yesterday’s! Yesterday, the waves were crashing and discouragement was rampant.

And today? I remember that God is always kind—every day and night. I am never, ever alone, even walking through the darkest of valleys. Even if I walk through the “shadow of the valley of death” (Ps. 23:4), I don’t need to fear anything because He promises to never leave me, going with me wherever I am (Deut. 31:6).

Maybe to some it sounds contradictory: Why does a loving, kind God allow the valleys in the first place? It’s because of the tragic choice of the first man and woman. Does it seem unfair that we experience pain and crisis and suffering because of their choice? Perhaps, according to human standards. But when sin entered the world, all the junk that comes with it entered too. And even we believers sometimes get hurt by sin’s touch.

Ah, but that’s where God’s kindness comes in. I believe His heart breaks when He sees His children suffer. And when we do, He gathers us in His arms and listens to our cries. It’s just like an earthly parent. Things are going to happen to our children, things that hurt them. And yes, we’d like to take the hurt away, but sometimes all we can do is love and comfort them.

Just as our heavenly Father loves and comforts us.

Loving Others (1 Thess. 2:7-8)

But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
(1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, NASB)

Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). He went on to say. “… love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

As followers of Christ, we are to love one another. We are to be kind and gentle. We should show compassion. Throughout the gospels, we see how Jesus cared for others.

He showed compassion to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:11) and to the woman with a flow of blood (Matt. 9:22). He was gentle when he met the Samaritan woman in her shame (John 4:1-26). He grieved with Martha and Mary (John 11:35).

And Jesus’ heart broke when He saw the rebellion of His people: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34).

So as Jesus showed compassion and gentleness, we should do the same. We should treat our brothers and sisters with affection and kindness, loving them as we love ourselves. Even more, loving them as Jesus loves us.

Change Your World (Eph. 4:32)

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
(Ephesians 4:32, NASB)

Think of how different our world would be if we were all kind to one another. If we forgave each other as we have been forgiven.

No anger or bitterness. No grudges or desire for revenge.

No jealousy or coveting.

No putting others down.

Just a world full of people showing love. Looking out for each other. Treating each other with respect. Providing for those less fortunate.

All of us would “regard one another as more important than [ourselves]” (Phil. 2:3). We’d love our neighbors more than we love ourselves ((Mark 12:30). We’d even be willing to lay down our lives for others (John 15:13).

Oh, what a world it would be.

Maybe we can’t change the entire world, but what about our own small circles of influence? What if each of us chose to be kind to those around us? If we were tender-hearted? If we forgave those closest to us?

It would be pretty amazing. So let’s try it. Let’s determine to accept Paul’s challenge and change—if not the whole world—our own “worlds.”

Love Does Not Act Unbecomingly (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NASB)

Love does not act unbecomingly.

Unbecomingly. Not a word we use in our daily vocabulary, I’d wager. There’s a nice old-fashioned ring to it, so I had to check out old Webster. Unbecoming means to behave in a way “not according with the standards appropriate to one's position or condition of life.”

Both the New Living Translation and the Contemporary English Bible use the word “rude.”

We as Christians (which is our "position or condition of life, by the way) should never be rude. And that can mean a couple of things. Rudeness connotes treating others in an “offensive manner.” It also can mean being “vulgar” in speech and action.

Think about how you interact with other people. Do you enjoy telling off-color jokes or using the latest profanity? Do you delight in pointing out the failings in others?

Or do you walk away when others gossip or put people down? Do you avoid using words that are offensive?

I picture Jesus sitting with a group of society’s disreputable. I picture His loving them and showing them kindness. But I do not picture Him laughing at their infirmities or failures. I do not picture Him peppering His speech with vulgarities.

And as we’ve talked about since we started looking at the attributes of love, we need to strive to love as He did.

Today, watch what you say and do. And love as Christ loves.

Love Is Kind (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NASB)

Love is kind.

Webster’s Dictionary defines “kind” as “affectionate and loving; of a sympathetic or helpful nature; of a forbearing nature; gentle.” Further, “gentle” is defined as “free from harshness, sternness, or violence.”

When we love, we’re to be kind. We’re to sympathize when our loved one is hurting. We’re to have a servant’s heart, desiring to help him when he’s in need. We’re to be patient (see yesterday’s devotional) when he’s not behaving as we would like.

And we’re to be gentle. Being harsh with the ones we love is not acceptable. And especially, there can be no hint of violence, physical or otherwise. Blowing up in anger at the ones we say we love is not love. Treating them harshly or rudely, even “jokingly” is not love. Putting them down—whether alone or with others—is not love.

Sometimes, we treat the ones we say we love worse than we do acquaintances or outright strangers. But that’s not really love.

Today, as you interact with your family and friends, ask the Lord to give you a spirit of kindness. Be loving and affectionate. Serve them without being asked. And if anger is an issue, pray—fervently pray—that the Lord will calm your spirit so you can be kindly loving.

Today and every day.