pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: kindness


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Mentors

Reading: John 14: 25-29

As we go through life, especially when we are younger, we find people that mentor and shape us.  They are people who  see something in us worth investing some of themselves in.  They usually are older and have been through a little bit more of life so they carry wisdom and expertise with them.  They are kind and loving and sacrificial people.  Mentors help us navigate our careers, our families and relationships, our faith.  If we have been mentored we are likely to become a mentor ourselves.

Jesus himself was a mentor.  For the disciples and undoubtedly others who followed Him, Jesus mentored many in their faith and how to live it out.  Indirectly Jesus continues to mentor each of us as we read His Word and apply it to our lives.  But Jesus also knew that the disciples and eventually we would need more than memories or the written recording of them.  He knew we would need an active and alive presence to continue to mold, shape, and guide us.  So Jesus gave mankind the gift of the Holy Spirit.  To all who call on Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Spirit comes and dwells within them.  Once there the Spirit is the constant presence of Jesus, reminding us and teaching us about Jesus and the example He set.

As we think about the people who have poured into our lives, at some point we must also begin to become aware of those around us who could use someone to mentor and shape them.  Other people have poured into us so that one day we too could pour into others.  As we seek this our may we be open to how the Spirit guides and leads us in this as well, always remaining a willing and humble servant.


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Clothe Ourselves Well

We are often concerned with what we wear.  We like to look good or at least be presentable!  If our hair is a little wild or our make-up a little smudged, we neaten it up a bit.  Many will give themselves a quick once over in the mirror to make sure they can be seen in public.

In our reading from Colossians, we are also instructed to put on more than clothes each day.  We are also called to put on compassion and kindness and humility.  These traits help us to see others as God sees them and to treat all as worthy of God’s love and of our love.  They help us to see the person and not their circumstances.

We are also called to put on gentleness and patience.  These two traits help us to treat people as God would treat them.  When we are gentle and patient we understand that some people require more time and attention than others and we are willing to offer this.  They help us to invest both deeply and long term in others so we can build relationships.

And we are called to forgive as God forgives us.  This encompasses two main components: there is no limit to how many times to forgive and it is a gift freely given with no strings attached.  People who are in need often walk a hard path in life.  It is easy to stumble along this path.  Clothing ourselves with forgiveness allows us to give mercy and encouragement over and over and over.  This shows we are in it for the long haul.

Lastly we are called to cover all of these traits in love.  It binds the other traits together in the perfect unity of the love of Jesus Christ.  This love of Christ must be what motivates all the others as well.  We cannot be compassionate, kind, … without the love of Christ being the driving force.  Without love the other traits will falter and fail.  May we clothe ourselves well this day so that all we meet can see Jesus Christ within us and experience His love shining forth from inside of us.

Scripture reference: Colossians 3: 12-14


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Resurrection Faith

As Christians we are called to walk in the light of Christ and to share that light with those in darkness.  Sometimes we ourselves wander off the past and into darkness but Jesus is faithful – He always calls us back to the light.  The path we are to walk is lit by the love of Christ.  When we are on track and living as a disciple of Jesus, in that light we have fellowship with Him and with one another.

We live in a world that is increasingly in darkness.  We live in a world where less and less of each successive generation is involved in a faith community.  Roughly 30% of the current millennial generation is part of a community of faith.  Only 50% of the previous generation is part of such a community.  This is the world in which we live.  Many, many people do not know Jesus; some have never even heard the name.

It is into this world of darkness that we are called to cast His light.  We cast the light by offering unexpected love and kindness.  We share the light by offering unlimited forgiveness.  We bring light into people’s lives through acts of extreme service.  In other words, we do the things that Jesus did.

People in our world who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus do not want to hear about our faith.  They want to see it lived out.  They want and need to see how this Jesus makes a difference in our lives and how He can make a difference in their life.  Once people see and experience our resurrection faith – a faith that is willing to do whatever is needed – then they too will be drawn to the light and the Spirit will begin to work in their lives as well.  It is the Spirit that does the real work. Our call is simply to share our resurrection faith.

Scripture reference: 1 John 1:5 to 2:2


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A Narrow Road

At times in our faith journey we can be immature and rather un-Christlike. We can choose to quarrel or bicker – both within a church and between churches or denominations or religions.

At times we choose as individuals to withhold love or kindness or acts of mercy. There can be a variety of reasons – prejudice, stereotypes, past history…

But thanks be to God that He doesn’t treat us this way! For His love never fails and it never gives up on me. Praise God! At times I must frustrate Him and at times I must miss opportunities He places before me. But He always loves.

As Christians this is our call too. We must emulate this love of God. We are called to love and serve all we meet each day. When they don’t look like us or are different from us or annoy us, this challenge can be hard. But it is the narrow road we are called to walk. May our walks be straight and true every day!!


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Light of the World

As followers of Christ we are transformed. We enter into a relationship with Christ and thereafter we are ever-changed and ever-changing. As we seek to follow the light of the world, we become light in our worlds. Isaiah 9:2 says “those walking in darkness have seen a great light.”

As we grow in our relationship with Christ we are surely changed on the inside. This process is one that should be constant and on-going. As Christians we are never ‘there’ because Jesus is always working to make us more loving, more compassionate, more giving… As we allow Christ to permeate our lives we see the world and those around us in new ways. We seek to share what Jesus gives us through acts of mercy, kindness, love, …

The people we encounter should see the light within us. This changes our relationship with them. As people watch us in action, they should either be lifted up and encouraged (if they are a fellow Christian) or they should be drawn to the light and want to know where this love of neighbor comes from. Our light begins to dispel the darkness in which they walk. Our light draws them to the light of the world – Jesus.

You never know what people will notice. Is it that you go out of your way to extend kindness and love to that person at work that no one else really talks to or wants to be around? Is it that you are willing to pitch in and give a hand even if it is not on your job description? As Christ grows in us, our light in the world grows. Allow your light to be that hook that dangles just in front of the fish, enticing it to come a little closer, enticing it to be caught by the love of God almighty!