The Upper Room Devotional 18 August 2023
The Upper Room Devotional 18 August 2023, Friday Message by Wayne Holland (Nevada, USA)
TOPIC: No Kindness Too Small
TODAY’S READING
Acts of the Apostles 2:32-35
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and will be repaid in full. – Proverbs 19:17 (NRSVUE)
The Upper Room Devotional 18th August 2023 MESSAGE:
One day when I was in line at the grocery store, a woman was looking to see how much money she had. Sadness grew on her face as she saw she did not have enough to cover everything. She ended up having to leave a couple of items behind. As she walked away, the person right behind her told the cashier to put her remaining groceries on his tab. The box boy grabbed the groceries and chased after the woman as she left. A few minutes later she came bounding back into the store, thanking everyone she could find for helping with her purchase. She never found the person who actually bought those last couple of items, but he saw her and had a big smile on his face.
Jesus wants his followers always to look for opportunities to serve, to “pass his love forward.” For that man the amount of money he spent for the woman’s groceries may not have been very much; but to her, it was significant. I don’t think anything can truly be called a “small kindness.” What we may consider insignificant might move someone from sadness to hope. As Christians we should understand that no matter how small the kindness we exhibit, it can be magnified many times over by God to change someone’s life.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, strengthen us to show your love and kindness to everyone we meet. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
There is no such thing as a small act of kindness.
PRAYER FOCUS
Those struggling to pay for food
The Upper Room Devotional 18 August 2023 Message, is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More.
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