August 12th

AUGUST 12th  

There is so much more to the words of Jesus than we realize at first glance. Especially the ones that seem so counterintuitive. A medical journal article came across my email today that really reinforced this whole concept. It was about being kind and what that does to our bodies and brains. Here’s the gist of it: Kindness (you being kind, not others being kind to you) is associated with decreased cortisol levels and improvement in inflammatory chemicals. (High cortisol levels wreak havoc on everything in your body from your biochemical reactions to your immune system to your sleep cycle to your fat levels and so much more.) I don’t have to tell you that elevated inflammation is bad for you. Anyway, there’s more…they found that doing 3 acts of kindness per week decreases anxiety levels and increases self-esteem. Giving a gift before a stressful situation causes faster pulse and blood pressure recovery. Doing this often enough may actually change your stress physiology in your body. The study found significant changes in only 4 weeks, imagine what it will do over the course of the rest of your life!

So you thought Jesus said all of these things just for the benefit of the people you are supposed to be kind to (love your neighbors, etc.)? Well it turns out that WE actually benefit even more than they do.

This knowledge casts a different light on things. Go back and read Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 with this in mind.

Luke 6:27-28 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Yes Jesus told us to do these things with the possibility of it drawing others to Him, but, as with everything else God does, there is more to it than just one purpose. He knows how He built us to function best, if only we would listen to Him we would enjoy better health.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds

This week let’s try to find ways to be kind every day, not only will it reflect the love of Jesus, but we will also see the change in our minds as the good pathways are reinforced and grow and the negative ones start to shrink.

Lord Jesus, thank you for how you designed me to benefit from kindness as well as the person to which I am being kind. Help me to recognize opportunities for kindness every day. Help me to see others through your eyes and see your heart for them so that I can see them not as an enemy but as a fellow broken person. Thank you for your healing that comes with kindness and thank you for your kindness toward me.