Daily Worship

Love is kind

Albert Bogle February 04, 2022 0 4
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1 Corinthians 13: 4, Psalm 138 (NIVUK)

(1 Corinthians 13) 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

(Psalm 138) 

1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    before the ‘gods’ I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down towards your holy temple
    and will praise your name
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.
3 When I called, you answered me;
    you greatly emboldened me.

4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
5 May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord is great.

6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
    with your right hand you save me.
8 The Lord will vindicate me;
    your love, Lord, endures for ever –
    do not abandon the works of your hands.

Have you become aware how the word kindness has become an ‘in’ word? I noticed my grand daughter wearing a t-shirt with the phrase ‘Kindness is my Superpower” printed across it. You know I felt good when I read it. And I started to think about this generation. There is something about today’s children that is quite inspirational. Even if they don’t go to church as we once did in our youth. Somehow they are being exposed to goodness. I know they’re not perfect, and I don’t want to appear naive, but I think there is a depth of honesty and concern for the creation that we in the church need to tap into. I do believe in original sin but I also believe in original goodness. And I believe God when he made the world and saw it was good.

It’s as though we know instinctively what is good and what is bad. We know kindness is an attribute that has power that goes beyond words. There have been even films made around the idea of random acts of kindness.  Why should we doubt that this is not God at work in our world touching our hearts and the hearts of our children to long to be kind, to care for the creation and to look for a more just society and in doing so to uncover the kindness of God our creator and redeemer.

Let each of us step out into our world today and show kindness to those who we will meet. In doing so we may be showing the face of God to a weary stranger looking for hope. Kindness truly is our superpower. Kindness expressed through the life and ministry of the church is a power that changes lives.

 

PRAYER:

 

Lord

Thank you for our children

And the lessons of kindness they teach us.

Come Spirit of Love

Move us

From compassion

Without tears

To patience that spans the years

To believe you have not given up on us

Let kindness

Be seen in our eyes

Let kindness

Shape our hearing

Let kindness

Touch our lips

Let kindness

Dwell in our hearts

Let our congregations be known because of their kindness