Kill them with Kindness
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“Where are your shoes?” I asked the young guy standing beside me.
“We didn’t have any size tens,” he responded. I gave my shoe-less brother a big hug. We’d volunteered to help with our church’s monthly clothing drive at the Homeless Shelter, and his generosity spoke volumes about loving sacrificially.
In Romans, Paul challenges us to wear a badge of love as Christ followers. As His ambassadors in this broken world, we cannot stand aloof on the sidelines when we see our brother in need. We must step in and “kill them with kindness.”
The ESV translation words Paul’s challenge to the church at Rome beautifully: “Outdo one another in showing honor.” In a world that lauds competition and ambition, Christ followers stand apart by setting aside their personal agenda to selflessly serve.
In the Old Testament story of Ruth, Boaz shows honor by unselfishly blessing two widows, Ruth and Naomi. His generosity was not a casual response. He purposed to meet their need by sharing of the harvest, rather than hoarding God’s provision. He could have looked the other way, but his tenderheartedness helped transform a tragedy into a redemption story.
Who in your circle of influence needs to experience God’s love and redemption today? Like Boaz, you can purpose to share out of your abundance to meet a need. You can shower someone with kindness and point them to Jesus.
God might not ask you to give away your shoes like my friend at the homeless shelter did, but He may ask you to walk across the street with a casserole dish. He may prompt you to mow someone’s lawn or pay for groceries to fill an empty pantry. Ask God to open your eyes to the needs around you. Serving sacrificially in your community may open the door for His love to transform your neighbor’s story.
Let’s purpose to outdo one another in living lives that actively display God’s abundant love and unending grace.
Let’s Talk: Think about the last time someone made an extra effort to extend kindness and generosity to you. How did it make a difference in your life?
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“Kill Them with Kindness” was originally published at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale’s Daily Devo.
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I am sharing “Kill Them with Kindness” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace, Let us Grow, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Grace Moments, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Three-Word Wednesday, Intentional Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Testimony Tuesday, and Sharing His Beauty.
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