Hey everybody, and welcome back to the Set Your Mind Above Podcast! I’m your host BJ Sipe – I’m a Christian, a preacher, a husband, and a father. In this podcast we take everyday, ordinary events and explore how they can teach us extraordinary, eternal truths. I’m so glad that you joined me for this episode. Now, let’s open up our minds, our hearts, and our Bible’s together.
Needing to work from home over the past week has reminded us of something we had forgotten, and that is that working from home can be very difficult with two young children. If it’s not one pulling out my cords from the outlet, it’s the other trying to grab my books or color on my Bibles. They are so sweet, both of the kids want my attention – but I just don’t have the ability to give it to them every 30 seconds when I’m trying to work. In addition, me being home can really throw a kink in Kylie’s schedule too. She has things she wants to accomplish and get done, and I often find myself getting in the way or making things more complicated for her. So today I had finally had enough and decided halfway through the day that I was going to go into my office to finish up the work day. I’m already technically allowed to be around others while masked according to the CDC guidelines, but I still thought heading to the office would be the best bet. But as I was about to head out to the car, I noticed something was sitting on our front porch that caught my attention. I opened the front door and my eyes couldn’t believe what I saw. Sitting there waiting for me were two drinks from the Hub, a coffee & a tea, as well as a bag full of soups & pastries. Attached to the bag was a note that read, “Get well soon, from the hub crew.” I quickly set my stuff down and ran in to show Kylie. About that time is when my phone buzzed, and it was a message from the new owners of the Hub who I have had the joy of striking up a friendship with over the past few months. They said that they had just dropped some goodies off on our front door and hoped our family feels better soon. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never seen a business go above and beyond to serve someone in their community to this extent. On one hand I was blown away, but on the other hand it makes perfect sense for someone like the Miniard’s to show this kind of kindness to a customer. You see Micah & Payton are also followers of Christ, and his character is seen in so many different aspects of their lives, including how they conduct their business. It’s not just them either, but their entire staff is full of some of the kindest, most thoughtful people that I have met since coming to Danville. I love them all, and I truly mean that when I say it, and today once again they loved me back. I hope that God gives us the opportunity to return this same kindness to each of them that they have shown to us one day soon.
It’s the little acts of kindness like this that go so far in life. In fact, I would venture to make the argument that showing kindness like we were shown today is one of the most powerful ways that we can witness about God. Now, I know what some of you might be thinking, “Isn’t that a bit farfetched? I mean after all, it’s just a cup of coffee, right?” And that is where I would challenge your thinking: it has nothing to do with the content of your kindness, but rather the context of your kindness. An act of kindness, true kindness, is a perfect reflection of the nature of God, no matter what it is. Let’s consider a few things together in Scripture together. First, true kindness is an act of true love. In fact, the first thing that Paul lists as a quality of love is that, “Love is patient and kind.” (1 Corinthians 13:4) We also know from 1 John 4:7-8 that God is love, for it says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Therefore, we can know with certainty that when we in love show true kindness to others around us, no matter how great or small, that what we are actually doing is putting God on display through us. The glory does not go to us, but to the true source of all that is good. Second, true kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 reads, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” How can you know that God’s Spirit is dwelling in his disciples? Well, one way that you can know is by looking at their life – are they bearing the fruit of the Spirit? Is their life full of love & kindness, and goodness towards others? Again, it is these little acts of kindness that go so far, not because of the content, but because of the context. It is who these acts of kindness point toward and witness to, and that is our Almighty God. They demonstrate what his Spirit can do through the lives of his followers, and the power that is to be found in submitting ourselves to striving to become more like him. Such actions have the ability to direct people to the right place in the right way. May we never underestimate the power of even a small act of kindness, for through it perhaps one might finally come to want to draw near to God. Let’s conclude with the following words recorded for us in 2 Peter 1:3-8, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Thank you for tuning in to today’s episode, and I would invite you back Tuesdays-Fridays for a brand-new episode each day. If you haven’t already, be sure to find us on Facebook for occasional announcements and special video sessions. If you have benefited from this podcast, please if you’re able be sure to share it with someone else that you think could benefit from it as well. Until next time, know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each & every day set our minds above.