Receiving Kindness and Truth

If now I have found grace in thy sight….deal kindly and truly with me. Genesis 47:29

Jacob’s request to Joseph is to be buried in his home land. This is his dieing wish. But he prefaces it with the heart cry of every person. Deal kindly and truly with me. Each of us want kindness shown to us and want to be told the truth. We don’t want to be lied to. Relationships thrive under these two demonstrations of love. The heart controls both. Kindness is our gracious actions and truth is our words and what we portray.

When I think of a kind person I think of someone who is tender, caring, helpful, and interested. It’s easy to be that way with close friends. But God’s grace urges me to extend kindness to those who least deserve it. I tend to shy away from rude people. If someone has hurt me or jumped on me I back off quickly. But God can work in my heart in such a way as to extend them kindness whenever possible.

The Bible says that God’s loving kindness is better than life. If He were to remove His kindness, grace, favor, and love, then life would not be worth living. Someone once said if God removed His hand from His creation we would become the nothingness that we were before creation.

Somehow I forget that I am undeserving of His kindness. Or I think it is easy for Him to show me love. But He doesn’t do anything for me because I deserve it or because it is easy (neither of which is true anyway). It comes naturally to Him. It is who He is. May I learn to appreciate everything He does for me. May I notice the gifts He lavishes on me every day.

Father, may I give to others what You so graciously give to me. Amen!