To be Christlike is to be compassionate. God, through the Scriptures, calls us to live out our faith by showing kindness and love to others. This does not always come naturally to us. Paul reminds us of this in Colossians 3:12 when he says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” These characteristics should be so obvious in how we live our lives that they become like the clothes we wear. Sometimes, we take everyday kindness for granted, but even the smallest acts can have a huge impact on the lives of those around us.
God made this clear to me recently in an unexpected way. One day in one of my classes, I told a friend that I was always happy when I saw him. I thought nothing of the interaction, but I found out later that the Holy Spirit used that simple compliment in a big way. My friend texted me the following weekend, saying that he was planning on taking his own life, but my words of encouragement caused him to reconsider. He told me how thankful he was that God placed me in his life when he was struggling. This situation has caused me to realize the importance of showing kindness to others, because you can never underestimate how the Holy Spirit will use our actions to impact those around us. I’m grateful that my friend is still in my life, and I’m thankful that God allows us to take part in His work by showing compassion to others.
Over the next two weeks, notice the people around you, and realize that inviting them to know Jesus is the ultimate act of compassion.
J.D. Smith
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