Dear church,

For the Christian, acts of kindness toward others are more than they appear. The world looks at such actions and sees a “nice” man or woman who is thoughtful toward those nearby. But in our acts of kindness, we look beyond the mere material circumstances that surround us. What we really are looking toward is God himself. 

“I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God.” The Israelites were to feed the Levites, the sojourners, the orphans, and the widows. This wasn’t a matter of being “nice,” although many would call it just that. This wasn’t some compassionate idea the people dreamed up in their own minds. It was an expression of their faithfulness toward the God who delivered them out of slavery in Egypt.

The Christian’s kindness is rooted in a response to God. The Christian is kind because God has been kind. When a Christian is kind, he’s thinking about God. “And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God.” Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Do you reserve credit for yourself for your acts kindness? When others see what you’ve done and compliment you for your good deeds, do you deflect the credit toward God? You are only keeping the commandment of the One who loves more deeply than we can imagine. Is every good thing in your life a reflection of God’s love, coming from Him and pointing back toward Him?

Chris