“The kindness of God leads you to repentance…” (Rom. 2:4). “When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us...” (Tit. 3:4). “Clothe yourselves with… kindness” (Col. 3:12).
Heavenly Father, we might call this meditation/prayer a “kindness-trifecta.” Not because we picked the first 3 finishers of a horse race; rather, because kindness never loses and a 3-fold kindness cord is really awesome and hard to beat.
Your kindness (not harshness) first drove us to Jesus (and still does). Indeed, free-grace salvation came to us like a “kindness-epiphany”—the glorious “Eureka!” of realizing we could never save ourselves, but you totally did by the Gospel. Thank you!
On this June Tuesday, some of us are in vacation-mode, others in vocation-mode; and a whole bunch of us are in “vexing-mode.” Whatever attire we don for the occasion, we’ll remain under-dressed until we clothe ourselves with your kindness (Col. 3:12). Though our culture is getting more cancel-happy, hubris-soaked, and spite-fluent, that’s not who you call us to be.
In our most strident conflicts, grace-needy relationships, and intense differences, there’s always a kinder way forward. Not “playing nice,” but living as yours—not being passive, but possessed by a greater Spirit.
Father, compel us to love others as Jesus loves us. Don’t let our harsh thoughts become harmful words today. Help us think, feel, speak, and act in line with the truth of the Gospel (Gal. 2:14). So Very Amen, we pray.