Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-15
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with . . . kindness. Colossians 3:12
YOU GROPE YOUR way to the breakfast table, your eyes still closed against the morning light. You sit down in your usual chair and mumble a quick prayer: “Lord, flump this flew to flabbleflubble,” or something less clear. When you finally manage to lift your eyelids, you see in front of you a bowl of your favorite cereal, already poured, two slices of toast, and a glass of orange juice. You pinch yourself to make sure you’re awake. Who did that? you wonder. Then you hear your brother call down the stairs. “Hope you like the breakfast I made for you!”
You hit the side of your head with your palm. Are you hearing and seeing things? He even sprinkled sugar on the cereal. The little squirt didn’t miss a thing. What’s going on? You turn a few spoonfuls of your cereal just to make sure there’s no poison or dead spiders in the bowl. Maybe he just wants something, you figure.
When you finish breakfast, you return to your room and find your bed made and your favorite outfit laid out on your bed. You expect to hear spooky music—like the theme to The X Files. You begin looking for hidden cameras. Then it dawns on you—aliens have invaded and taken over your brother’s body! As soon as you let your guard down, they’ll seize you and make you their slave, too!
Things get weirder as the day goes on. You walk into a room, where your brother is watching television, and he offers to change the channel to your favorite show! You get a little thirsty, and the little squirt shows up with a can of pop—for you! He even does one of your chores for you, just because (he says) “I felt like doing it!”
That would be pretty cool, wouldn’t it? Spooky, but cool. Imagine what life would be like if your little brother or big sister or best friend spent all day being kind to you. It would be great, right?
That’s why God commands us to be kind; he knows how great it is when people treat each other kindly. He knows our life would be better if we were all kind to each other. That’s why his Word says, “You must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
So kindness is right because God commands it. Plus, it can be really cool, too.
REFLECT: How do you think your family life would be different if everyone took every opportunity to be kind to each other? How would your school, church, or neighborhood be different if everyone showed kindness? if you took every opportunity to be kind to others?
PRAY: “Dear God, I know that kindness is right because you command it. Help me to surprise people—even people in my own family—with kindness today as I _____________________ .”
