Desert Discovery

"The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness" - (Psalm 145:17, NLT). 
Suppose you turned on the radio tomorrow morning and heard a news flash that said an ancient document had just been discovered in the desert. And suppose the newsperson said that this document contained new information about God! And suppose that document contained the following accounts of God's activity on earth:

• that God created giraffes just so he could make fun of their long necks

• that God really¬threw Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden because he wanted the garden all to himself!

• that in 4040 B.C., God saw an old lady crossing a city street in Kish, and he tripped¬her!

• that God once kicked a dog. . . for no reason at all!

• that when David sang Psalm 23 for the first time, God started throwing rotten tomatoes, saying, "Aah, get outta here! Your singing stinks! Get some voice lessons!"

How would you respond to such a discovery? Would you say, "Well, whaddya know?" Or would you say, "That's bogus! I don't believe that! God would never do those things!"

Chances are, you wouldn't believe such a document, would you? You would doubt or dismiss its truthfulness, wouldn't you? But why? Because you know better.

After all, you know that God would never trip old ladies or kick dogs. He wouldn't make fun of a giraffe or heckle a church musician, right? Because those things are contrary to God's nature; they would be "out of character" for God. Because God is kind.

The Bible says, "The LORD¬is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness" (Psalm 145:17, NLT,) Kindness is a part of who he is. In fact, ultimately that's why kindness is right. . . because God himself is kind. That's why he commands kindness, and that's why he values kindness. And that's why we should be kind, because our Father in Heaven is kind.

Reflect: Do you think God is kind? How do you know? Has God been kind to you? If so, in what ways? What makes kindness right (and unkind attitudes or actions unkind)? Name some ways you can reflect God's kindness today.

Prayer: "Our Loving Heavenly Father, I praise you because you're filled with kindness, and I thank you because you've been so kind to me; help me to show your kindness to others today and every day by . . . ." Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."