May 21

Extending Christ’s Kindness

Bible in a Year :

Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.

Kindness or revenge? Isaiah had just been hit in the head by a wild pitch during a Little League regional championship baseball game. He dropped to the ground holding his head. Thankfully, his helmet protected him from serious injury. As play resumed, Isaiah noticed the pitcher was visibly shaken by his unintentional error. In that moment, Isaiah did something so extraordinary that the video of his response went viral. He walked over to the pitcher, gave him a comforting hug, and made sure the pitcher knew he was all right. In a situation that could have resulted in a brawl, Isaiah chose kindness.

In the Old Testament, we see Esau make a similar, though far more difficult, choice to abandon any long-harbored plans for revenge against his deceiving twin brother Jacob. As Jacob returned home after twenty years in exile, Esau chose kindness and forgiveness instead of vengeance for the ways Jacob had wronged him. When Esau saw Jacob, he “ran to meet [him] and embraced him” (Genesis 33:4). Esau accepted Jacob’s apology and let him know he was all right (vv. 9-11).

When someone demonstrates remorse for wrongs committed against us, we have a choice: kindness or revenge. Choosing to embrace them in kindness follows Jesus’ example (Romans 5:8) and is a pathway toward reconciliation.

Reflect & Pray

When have you been met by kindness after acknowledging a wrong? How might you show kindness to someone else?

Dear Jesus, please help me to follow Your example and extend kindness when I’ve been wronged.

Find out how forgiveness can save your relationships.

This one hit me right between the eyes. A real struggle I’ve had for two years.

Living next door to the thief who stole my van. The vehicle covered by insurance The contents…everything I owned of value inside was not covered

The Perp mid 30s , his mother and grandmother all living together and all protective. The three have never worked

Police not agressive. Went to door. Mother and grandmother were there. Knocked.no one answered. They dropped it.

Perp a year later said he was sorry for everything. Huh? You didn’t turn yourself in or acknowledge publicly your thievery.? You made no effort to repay a dollars worth of contents? Instead you smirk anytime we encounter outside.

I Realize that God’s justice will eventually prevail but I find it hard to just shrug it off and say well that’s OK.