Convicted Kindness

Convicted Kindness

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

James 2:19-20

The sometimes-frustrating side effect of trying to live a life of intentional kindness is that twinge I feel in my spirit when I do something that is not kind, is not helpful, or is not how I know I should have responded in a situation. More often than ever before, I find myself wincing over an opportunity that I’ve blown in some way and wishing I’d responded differently.

Being on this intentional journey of kindness seems to shine an especially bright spotlight on my less-than-perfect moments—the ones I’d rather forget, sweep under the rug, or justify in my mind with a lousy excuse. While I know that my salvation does not depend upon how many good deeds I accomplish during my years on earth, I also know that my faith, if it is authentic, must reveal itself in my actions.

The Bible reminds us that even the demons acknowledge the authority of God. It is in our actions that we reveal our true faith. In other words, our intangible faith (or lack thereof) is made tangible by how we live our lives and the small actions we take every day.

As I feel those twinges of conviction over whatever action I took (or did not take), I thank God that he’s helping me to recognize my weak spots and learn from my mistakes. Without conviction, there is no improvement, no growth, no desire to do and be better. And that is my greatest desire—to love God with my whole heart, my whole soul, and my whole mind, and to love my neighbors as myself (Matthew 22:37-39). I cannot grow in my ability to love and be kind without recognizing my mistakes and learning from them.

—Julie

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Pray that God would convict you the next time you miss the mark of kindness. When you feel that twinge of conviction, ask God for a second chance, and if necessary, apologize and ask for forgiveness.