Kindness 7-15-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I wait to begin this day and every day centered in Jesus, embraced by my heavenly Father, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ... "But God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7). You loved us even when we were dead to You through our trespasses, turning to ourselves instead of turning to You for the comfort and peace we were created to know in Your love and grace. Yet we are so tempted to question Your love for us now that we've been embraced, forgiven, and saved, made alive together with Christ. How ironic how often we can almost imagine You to be more loving and forgiving of the lost than those who've been found. How demonic our deception and confusion when we fail to fully grasp "the immeasurable riches of (Your) grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." We cannot fully know You and Your heart of love and grace toward us without knowing that nature of Your kindness. I know we are to behold both "the kindness and the severity of God," not just one without the other (Romans 11:22). You are not a lax and overly-permissive parent who is so insecure about our love for You that You'll let us do whatever we want to do and live however we want to live without consequences for our actions, intended to lead us back to the ways that lead to true and abundant life to the full. So You correct and discipline us out of Your love for us and desire for us to know the fullness of the love, peace, and joy You've intended eternally for us (Hebrews 12:5-11). But any view of the severity of God without seeing it grounded in and flowing from the kindness of God is a distorted view that allows the enemy of our souls to confuse and deceive us in order to steal from us the true image of You and of ourselves. So Lord, please teach me more about the significance of Your kindness. ... It seems I hear You say, "My son, My kindness toward you is an expression of My love for you. My kindness for you is My comfort and care for you, My tender mercies toward you. And My kindness is always there for you -- not just when you think you deserve it, but especially when you think you don't. And those times when you sense your heart tender toward others, not out of pity but out of compassion, are times when I'm showing you a sense of My kindness toward you and all of My creation. So be kind, by My grace; for when you are kind you are more as I am." Yes, Lord. Thank You for these riches of Your grace in kindness toward me. Keep forming the nature of Your kindness in me as a fruit of Your Spirit (Galatians 5:22). "As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12). Even when we must speak the truth in love or "admonish one another in all wisdom," give us grace to remember Your heart and command, "Above all, clothe yourselves with love" (Colossians 3:14-16). "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another" (Zechariah 7:9). Let the severity of righteousness always flow out of the compassion of kindness. And remind me that this nature is Your nature, and that this heart for others is Your heart for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Laura Beach, a spiritual director associated with our ministry will be leading The Fountain this Friday Night, July 17th in Lexington, while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead in worship. Please come and spread the word. Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night, July 17th, on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted at Southland Evangelical Methodist Church 2601 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Hill n' Dale). Contact Doris & Bob at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Daily Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org