Kindness is Not Nice – Sept 13th

People could be nicer. They could show civility in their discourse, smile more often, and behave less rudely. I am sure we would all enjoy that. That would be nice.

But deep conflict burning within marriages and families, or between rivals and antagonists at school and work, or between social and political tribes, will not be solved by being nice. As nice as niceness is, our gnarly knots of pride, pain, and confusion, demand something more.

Jesus enters this world, our world, of unending strife. Walking alongside us, familiar with our fears and our anger, Jesus calls us to follow in another direction.

KINDNESS is in that direction. Kindness is what God demonstrates, over and over. It is the personal attention and unmerited mercy he offers you and me. It is in the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, in the Old Testament. It is the story of Jesus and his disciples, Jesus and the poor, Jesus and the tax collector Zaccheus, Jesus and the fearful Pharisee Nicodemus. Kindness is there when Jesus heals the wounded ear Peter cut off at the Lord’s betrayal; it is there between Jesus  and the thieves on the cross, not to mention the soldiers surrounding him.

KINDNESS IS NOT NICE; it is more. It is the spiritual fruit born from roots fed by love that flows from God. Noticing the unnoticed, leaning in toward the obnoxious, exercising holy hospitality, extending peace to your enemy, risking ridicule for weakness in the eyes of the world, forsaking revenge – all of these courageous and sacrificial actions require more than just being nice. They require something from us that can only be sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit.

YOUNG CHURCH

  • Godly Play – Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness
  • Big Kids – ZOOM meeting Sunday at 11:20 am

BEYOND SUNDAY

  • Four separate Small Groups meet via ZOOM on a regular basis – “Guys Group”; “North End Moms”; “Crown Hill”; “Bigger Kids”; email office@emmausroad.net for info
  • New Horizons Dinner – served every first Wednesday; email office@emmausroad.net for info.
  • Aurora Commons – Wonder what their wishlist is? See it here; view the most recent update here.