EPHESIANS 4:32.

 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

TO PONDER

I mentioned 'social justice warriors' in my devotion yesterday. I don't mean to downplay the importance of meaningfully supporting and helping groups writing our communities who are frequently overlooked or routinely mistreated. I'm also sure that Jesus expected his followers to point out and address injustice where they encountered it. However, the kind of activism you often see on the TV news is often something else entirely.

When was the last time you saw an actual peaceful protest on the news? One that didn't devolve into simply an angry mob (or two) shouting and hurling abuse and projectiles at one another?

The world today seems to have abandoned kindness and compassion towards others, especially if those others don't see tings the way you see them.

This means that in the context of today's world, the way in which we exercise kindness and compassion towards others can bone of the major tools in our bag when it comes to helping others encounter Jesus.

I heard an interesting episode of John Dickson's "Undeceptions" podcast recently. In it, he was discussing with other historians about what life might actually have been like in the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus and the early church and how this might have influenced or impacted the rapid spread of Christianity. While I do not remember all the specifics, the general consensus was that it was the mutual care, compassion, and love that the followers of Jesus demonstrated between one another - which was so different to the prevailing attitude of taking care only of yourself and immediate family - that probably had one of the largest impacts in the early days. The way the Christians loved others and showed care and mercy flew in the face of the prevailing cultural norm of the day.

I can't help but think that maybe, in the "post-Christian" society we now seem to find ourselves living in, whether our kindness and compassion towards each other both inside and outside of our churches, might not be one of the tools we have forgotten about when it comes to bearing witness to Jesus?

If you are a social justice warrior, good on you! Keep on seeking justice for those who have been wronged - but do it with humility, kindness and compassion. That's what will make a difference.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you were the ultimate social justice warrior. You came so that I could be free from the oppression of sin and death and restored to life in you. Please help me to know and to grow in your love every day so that I too might be able to dedicate myself to showing others the kindness and compassion you have shown to me. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle