Pastor Thoughts for November 6th

“That action might be sharing the Gospel with an unchurched person, bringing a cup of warm coffee to a homeless person, or surprising a neighbor with sticky buns to cheer on recovery”

From this morning’s portals of prayer, we are reminded of the gift of kindness.This particular kindness is not something that we muster up in ourselves. Rather it is the work of God. “And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” Mt25:40. In the Lutheran Study Bible footnotes [TSLB Mt25:40] it reads, “This verse stresses that Jesus is with the Christian community in such a way that we serve Him when we serve others”.

As I mentioned yesterday about the handiwork of God, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” [Eph2:8-10].

God prepares us as His workmanship. Again as it reads in the footnotes [TSLB Eph2:10], “God carries out the plan..our works are not the cause of salvation, but its result. We cannot even lay claim to these, for God created them for us to do in Christ”

The gift of kindness is prepared for us by the work of Christ and His ultimate kindness through His sacrificial work upon the Cross. Some may see kindness as something magnanimous (SAT word of the day), but rather, it may be something more ordinary. For example, asking someone how their day is going, or helping someone in need, giving your spouse/children your undivided attention.. the examples are numerous.

If kindness is heard with a “i guess I have to be more kind now”, this is not the point. Rather, we must reset and go back to the Gospel. Through His love [1Jn4:19], we know how to love. We are not trying to earn the identity as children of God through our works. It is Christ who has already accomplished this. But, as redeemed children of God [this is your status already, eternal life, forgiveness and salvation is yours already too], we go in the Joy of the Gospel. Kindness, of course 🙂

Have a blessed day!

+PrJ